Remote work was already a growing trend when the Covid-19 pandemic struck earlier this year. Then it became the norm, virtually overnight. It may be a positive outcome of this surreal time for many employers as they realize the numerous benefits associated with team members working from home.
Consider the following factors:
Morale
When it comes to keeping employees engaged, work/life balance is a top priority. A recent Penn State study showed that telecommuting does not blur the boundaries between work and home, but rather, reduces conflicts between people’s personal and professional lives.
- Work/life balance saves people from chronic stress and all its negative effects. Promoting this balance shows your employees that you value them and their contributions. And knowing that you respect their personal lives leads to higher morale.
- Work from home does not affect workplace relationships, if management is on board, and communication lines remain open. Penn State researchers also found that employees who maintained regular contact with their managers and peers via phone or email experienced better work relationships.
Productivity
Results of another notable study, this one at Stanford University, showed that employees who work from home were 13 percent more productive than their in-office peers.
- Remote employees have more control over their work environment. They spend more time on job-related tasks and less on commuting or chatting at the water cooler. As a bonus, they spend less money on transportation – and there are environmental plusses, with fewer vehicles on the road. Think of the emptiness on area highways during the peak of the pandemic. It’s not that extreme, of course, but there are benefits to less traffic overall.
Retention
According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the average cost to hire a new employee was $4,425 as of 2017. The cost of a failed hire can be much greater, generally amounting to the equivalent of a person’s annual salary, on average. Telecommuting and work/life flexibility are among the most popular benefits you can offer as a means of landing top talent and keeping high performers on board for the long term..
- In one Gallup poll, 37 percent of employees said they would change jobs if it meant they could work at least part of the time remotely.
Cost Savings and Safety Go Hand in Hand
Fewer employees on-site mean lower overhead costs. You save on rent, utilities, maintenance, furniture, equipment, supplies, and more.
And of course, time is money. Fewer employees call out when allowed to work from home.
- Never before has wellness at work been more critical. No one, even a person who feels like “it’s probably just a cold,” should be coming into the office. This is the new global norm. Remote employees can still get work done with higher comfort levels and without infecting anyone else.
Let the staffing and workforce experts at PrideStaff Modesto help as you build and retain your winning team – including the development or modification of your remote work policy and practices. Contact us today so we can tell you more.
