The Benefits of Remote Work

The idea of working remotely may have seemed far-fetched a decade ago, but it’s gradually becoming more and more common. Research has found, “The telecommuter population grew by 11.7 percent from 2015 to 2016—the largest year-over-year growth since 2008.” And 4.3 million employees currently work from home at least half the time. Here are some of the key benefits of remote work and why it’s something you may want to offer.

A Healthier Work-Life Balance

The modern workforce is experiencing burnout in record numbers. A big contributor to this collective exhaustion is the sheer number of hours people are working. In fact, Gallup found the average American worked a total of 47 hours per week in 2014.

Allowing your staff to telecommute even part of the time provides a lot of flexibility, which gives your workers a nice chunk of time out of the workplace and can promote a healthier work-life balance. An added plus is it helps bring families closer together.

Happier Employees

A study by The Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College mentions a concept called “negative spillover,” where poor experiences and attitudes carry over from the workplace to an employee’s personal and family life. What they found was individuals who worked in more flexible workplaces showed less signs of negative spillover. There were also fewer cases of stress and fatigue, meaning these employees tend to happier.

A Higher Retention Rate

When you combine a better work-life balance with greater morale, it only makes sense that your company’s retention rate will improve. One survey even found, “79 percent of employees said they would be more loyal to en employer if they offered more flexibility.” If one of your main goals is to reduce turnover, offering remote work is an effective way to accomplish that.

Increased Productivity

While some employers may have reservations about remote work because they fear it could reduce productivity, studies have found it’s quite the opposite. For example, “JD Edwards teleworkers are 20-25 percent more productive than their office counterparts,” and “American Express workers produced 43 percent more than their office-based counterparts.”

The workplace has evolved dramatically over the years, and telecommuting is now a fairly common practice. And it’s not something that only benefits your employees—it can help your business as well. Therefore, it’s an option that’s definitely worth your consideration.

Want to get the edge with your recruiting? Contact the professionals at Encadria Staffing Solutions today.

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