The benefits of working remotely for businesses and employees

The definition of 'employee' is changing in today’s technologically progressive world; distance is no longer a barrier, with the world becoming more like a global village. Employers can pick and choose the skills they need from anywhere on the planet. Recent studies also suggest 91% of employees would get more work done remotely. So what are the benefits of remote working?

The benefits of remote working

Benefits of remote working can include:

• Increasing worker productivity
• Lowering employee stress
• Lowering carbon footprint
• Improving work-life balance
• Saving employers money

Increasing worker productivity

According to a study by Global Workplace Analytics, 86% of telecommuters say they are more productive in their home office. Research also suggests that remote workers produce 43% more business volume than their in-office counterparts.

Lowering employee stress

A post-pandemic study from 2021 found that employees who work from home have tended to experience a reduction in psychological and physical stress responses (though a rise in presenteeism was also noted for full-time remote workers). When working remotely, employees can manage their own workload and factor in breaks to keep themselves focused.

Learn more: How to reduce employee stress

Lowering carbon footprint

According to the UK Office of National Statistics, commuters reported having lower life satisfaction, lower levels of happiness and higher anxiety on average than non-commuters. Less commuting means happier employees and a better planet for our future. A win-win!

Improving work-life balance

Remote workers have better work-life balance, since they can set their working hours around their lives. According to Acas, a poor balance between an employee’s work commitments and their other responsibilities can lead to stress, higher levels of absence and low productivity. Employees who have a better work-life balance often have a greater sense of responsibility, ownership and control over their working life.

Saving employers money

According to Global Workplace analytics’ Advantages of Agile Work Strategies For Companies, nearly six out of ten employers identify cost savings as a significant benefit to telecommuting. Employing remote working strategies increases the employer’s talent pool while slashing real estate costs.

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