Could remote work become the new normal?

May 14, 2020 3

In 2019, an estimate of over half of U.S. employees was able to work from home. This figure states that employees did work for a minimum of one day per month remotely. Additionally, this figure has dramatically risen due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. COVID-19 has forced many businesses to try their hand at remote working practices, even those who previously may have been against allowing their employees to work from home. As the virus appears to be under control, businesses may begin preparing their employees to go back to the office. However, the question is ‘Should they?’

COVID-19 has unwittingly begun the single largest work-from-home experiment in human history. The pandemic is forcing businesses to operate remotely and to adopt work-from-home practices previously avoided. During the past few weeks, employees and employers have had a taste of what working remotely could be like. Although some may be itching to get back into the office, many have seen benefits that working remotely can have. As a result, some may be more reluctant to give up this new way of working.

Four reasons why working remotely makes sense

Working from home comes with so many benefits, not only for employees but also for employers, here are a few of the key benefits of remote working.

Cost savings for employers (and employees)

Remote working allows employers to cut their rent and property costs. It can be especially beneficial to companies who are renting office space by the desk.

More productivity

Many businesses worry that by allowing their employees to work from home, they will take advantage of company time. However, many find the exact opposite. Remote workers are often more engaged, more productive, and more likely to put in overtime than their office dwelling counterparts. In fact, research has found that remote workers tend to be 20% more productive on average.

Allows for the attraction of top talent

One of the biggest challenges for any business is finding the best talent. Remote working widens the search area for any given job position and also attracts the best candidates. If hiring remote workers is your biggest worry, then don’t let that get in the way of you finding your perfect candidate as remote hiring solutions can help you to navigate virtual interviews.

Reduction of stress

Workplace stress can have a serious impact on employees’ mental and physical health. It can also impact their job performance and productivity levels. Staff members that work from home tend to have much lower levels of job-related stress. Moreover, this makes them healthier, happier and better employees.

So should we go back to work in the same way we did before COVID-19?

It’s pretty safe to say that COVID-19 has dramatically influenced the work-from-home landscape. Whether or not this continues when the pandemic ends remains to be seen. However, one thing is for certain: things won’t be the same.