Before the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote jobs were already experiencing steady growth, often for their ability to provide companies with freelance and contractual workers with the right qualifications for specific jobs despite geographical distance. The pandemic occurrence, however, only served to push this growth even further, when companies had to devise ways to keep work going, even with the need for everyone to stay at home. Even companies who were previously skeptical about the idea of remote work were forced to try this method as the only available option to continue business operations.
The result has been a realization of the many benefits that remote work has given to both businesses and employees, as well as a rise in the integration of digital technologies and methods that further improved online collaborations.
Benefits of Remote Work for Employees
According to a study done by Stanford, remote workers were about 13% more productive than office workers. This increase in productivity can be attributed to many factors.
Remote workers experience a better work-life balance, with the flexibility to schedule their work in line with personal schedules and responsibilities. The absence of need to commute to work has also led to more time with family and decreased stress levels from not having to brave daily traffic. Additionally, with a flexible schedule, workers tended to choose to work during their most productive hours, which has been a key factor to their increased productivity. Lastly, working from home has allowed workers to save more money. The absence of daily transportation costs, need for proper office clothes, and fastfood or restaurant lunches has allowed them to save a bulk of their income, which they could then re-allocate to more personal needs and goals.
Benefits of Remote Work for Employers
Remote work has been found to have a higher employee retention rate. In a survey done by Owl Labs, results showed that remote workers were 13% more likely than office workers to stay in their current jobs. The more comfortable and flexible work-from-home environment has created higher work satisfaction for employees, which has translated to less employee turnover and greater enthusiasm for work.
Cost-wise, companies have also made great savings in not having to run physical workspaces that entail space rental, utility and equipment maintenance costs, which can be especially expensive in large cities and business centers.
Another benefit of the remote work setup is in the capacity of companies to access a larger pool of talent, instead of being restricted to their locality. This opportunity has allowed for the selection of the best potential workforce possible.
Current Trends in Remote Work
Because of the many benefits that remote work has provided in the past decade, and especially during the pandemic, there is currently a rise in “hybrid” in-office (alternately working in-office and remotely), and remote-based companies. Technologies in remote-focused tools for communication and cyber-security have also seen greater and greater improvements. These days, Wi-fi speeds are much better, and video calls have become a ‘norm’ for company collaborations. The further emergence of a digitally-savvy generation of new employees – Generation Z – largely signifies as well, that remote work will be an work option that is here to stay for generations yet.
The possibilities for business and global economic growth have widened because of remote work. Businesses have been able to save on costs and have grown in worker productivity; not to mention the flexibility to maintain operations, through the increased use of technology.
If you are not already integrating this new work function or don’t know where to start, you may contact us at Ezy Outsourcing Hub for remote work staff and solutions that will propel your company’s productivity and growth rates to new heights. We’ve been in the business for years. Trust us, we know how it works.
