“I’m going to work, have a great day!”
If you’re anything like the majority of the workforce, you just visualized a well-dressed man sporting a suit and tie finishing his final sip of coffee before facing the horrors of his morning commute. While traveling to a “traditional” workplace is still the most common approach for businesses, studies show that working remotely is on the rise and its many benefits definitely make it a strategy worth considering.
So, what are some of the major benefits of remote work?
Better Work-Life Balance
According to The Washington Post, the average American commute is 27 minutes one-way. This means that, in total, the average American commutes for 216 hours - nine entire days - out of the year. That’s time that could be spent with family and friends, enjoying the outdoors, picking up a new hobby – generally anything other than being stuck in traffic.
Combined, the freedom afforded by remote work does wonders for employee morale in a variety of ways. As reported by Business Insider, full- or part-time remote workers reported increased productivity and less stress in addition to a more positive perspective of their employer. While happy employees lead to a more positive corporate culture, it really comes down to the basic fact that if a company can improve people’s lives, it should.
Safety and Security
Data, both personal and professional, is incredibly valuable. In the same way that valuables are protected, precautions should be taken to keep data out of the hands of hackers. By updating antivirus software and setting up a VPN, working remotely doesn’t mean compromising security. Being able to securely work on any project regardless of the time or location provides not only opportunity, but also peace of mind.
“In Case of Emergency…”
In today’s world, you never know what could happen. From digital threats to physical threats, being able to maintain company functionality from anywhere in the world is an incredibly valuable asset that keeps businesses running even when disaster strikes. Between the team communication and collaboration tools at our disposal, any smartphone or laptop becomes an entirely functional “virtual office”.
For employers, the most important element is trust. The freedom to work remotely requires trusting that company time is spent appropriately. While having a few black sheep is inevitable, employees are going to respect a company that respects them. By trusting in people and providing them with the tools they need to succeed away from the office, remote work promises to provide ample benefits across the board to push companies to new heights.
