Benefits of Embracing a Remote Work Policy

A lot of organizations deter from telecommuting. There are general concerns with the employee actually getting any work done in their home environment. Sure there are plenty of distractions for the remote worker – television, pets, etc. But, for the right employees, the option of working remotely could mean great results. If your policy is to be in the office every day, you could be missing out on some rock star talent that needs more flexibility.

Capture a broader range of candidate’s

You may have an open job you need to fill but this doesn’t mean you should fill the role with just anyone. It needs to be the right candidate. Someone who is going to excel in the role, gel with the existing team, and increase overall growth for the company. The right candidate may be just outside your work area ‚Äì either across the country or in your own backyard. For example, here in the Boston area, traffic has gotten increasingly worse. A 30-mile ride can turn into a 2-hour commute (one way!). This severely limits your candidate pool of people from just outside the immediate area. Just think of the top talent you could miss out on. Remember, remote work can mean less time in traffic each day and extended productive working hours.

Better Collaboration

There are plenty of distractions in the office as well. Communal areas, open workspaces, and noise can also make it hard to concentrate and be productive. On top of this, many companies advertise a startup culture. They boast unlimited snacks, beer taps, and gimmicky office designs. Going into the office can be more of a social hour versus a place for productivity. Since the digital explosion, much can be performed just as easily at home as it can in the office. With video conferencing, cloud storage, and messaging apps, it’s easy to stay in touch with team members remotely. On top of this, remote workers spend their time with teammates and supervisors more wisely. With less interaction that they would have in an office setting, their meetings tend to be more productive, data-driven, and goal-oriented.

Increased Employee Satisfaction

A survey from employee engagement firm TINYpulse1 indicated that almost 91% of people who work from home feel they’re more productive than when they’re in an office. This option can also be extremely important to certain employee’s lives ‚Äì like working mothers with young children or employees with elderly parents who need more care, for example. With the flexibility to easily navigate personal responsibilities, remote employees have reduced stress when it comes to maintaining a healthy work/life balance. Plus, the added trust from their employer means the remote worker is there to prove themselves and exceed their goals. Although remote work seems to be a good fit for some employees, it’s not always best for everyone. Whatever method your organization decides, the bottom line is that it’s extremely important to cultivate a productive, welcoming work environment. Once you have the right environment, the right candidate’s will be drawn to your company bringing along the expertise and drive you to need to grow.