The COVID-19 outbreak had caused a serious shift in industries worldwide, impacting even the way we do business. With precautionary lockdown measures that confined everyone to their homes, the world had witnessed limited physical interaction between the year 2019 and present day, forcing many to work from their homes. While several businesses had been affected as a result of the drastic shifts in technology, some were clever enough to push themselves towards imminent success, relying primarily on remote workspace technologies.
Remote work refers to the ability to work from anywhere and at any time. However, this mode of work wasn’t just discovered during the pandemic but in fact was a full-fledged working method even before that. In fact, as per an article by Forbes published in 2018, it was projected that 50% of the United States’ workforce alone was to be remote. Similarly Europe had witnessed an increment of 2.1% (jumping to 9.8%) of remote workers force in the past decade.
So working remotely wasn’t always seen as a last resort. It contains immense potential that businesses are now especially recognizing post pandemic. It proves to be fruitful for both employees and employers. This article will walk you through all the benefits involved in using a remote workspace.
Reduced costs
Fewer costs to account for is a primary and obvious factor for businesses who are or are considering going fully remote. How? Well, for starters owners will not need to pay for a premises, employees are provided with the flexibility to work from the comfort of their homes while the capital cost of purchasing or renting out a premises is eliminated.
Businesses can also save up on a lot of time and money spent on frequent travelling and conducting regular meetings. As per research it was concluded that a business can save up to $11,000 per remote worker by using telecommunication 50% of the time. This may vary as per the size of your businesses but it can drastically change your business outlook and helps you save up on extra money to reinvest back into the business.
Similarly, owners can expect to see a thriving, productive work centre as opposed to empty offices that require to be filled in by new candidates. While the ghost town factor may often go unnoticed, it can cost your company thousands for no reason.
Increased productivity
There had been a long standing myth that suggested remote workers are phoney professionals behind a computer screen, lacking the ability and skill required for a real job. This is not true. As a matter of fact, remote workers have proven to be a lot more productive than even those employees who work on-site.
While it is true that a remote worker may be inclined towards taking more breaks in a day, they are also committed to devoting more time towards their tasks.
The benefits of flexibility during working hours, not having to travel to work everyday, working in a relaxed environment at home, reduced distractions, are all some of the many benefits that motivate an employee to give their best using a remote workspace.
Increased access to skilled applicants
By eliminating the geographical obstacles that lie between finding and selecting some of the best applicants based on their skill, companies can easily hire specialised candidates and broaden their workspace diversity. The best part is that the entire process of hiring can be dealt with in a virtual environment; from posting a job opening, to sorting through job applicants, conducting interviews and finally hiring. This sort of recruiting process is not only easier for employers and employees but allows businesses to build bridges between skill gaps, for instance, being fluent in multiple languages which may be beneficial for the business in that area.
Establishes a decent work-life balance
Just until a couple of years ago, the thought of having to work remotely probably wouldn’t even occur in our wildest dreams. However, fast forward to today, thanks to the advancements in technology employees do not have to waste their time travelling to get to their offices everyday. The reduced time and costs spent on commuting adds more hours back to an employee’s days. This allows employees to easily switch and manage between their work and life, creating a decent balance. The greater flexibility provided contributes to a happier, productive work space environment.
Remote work can prove to be highly effective in rendering some opportunities for businesses to expand. The freedom of working from a comfortable environment and space, regardless of employee status leads to a healthy and positive work environment.
