There was a time when companies couldn’t imagine allowing employees to work from home even occasionally, let alone every single day. Thankfully, that time is ending. More and more successful companies aren’t just adopting a work culture that allows employees to work remotely – they’re encouraging employees to do it, and looking for others who want the same experience.
Of course, there are still companies that can’t quite wrap their mind around the idea of remote workers. More traditional, these companies want to see people at their desks in the morning and in conference rooms by the afternoon. Unfortunately, this way of thinking can actually hurt companies in terms of productivity, creativity, and attracting the best, most talented candidates.
Here are three reasons why remote workers offer so much more to companies than they are often given credit for:
- Remote Workers are More Productive, Less Expensive. By transitioning to hiring more remote employees, businesses are giving time back to their employees. Not only will employees no longer need to commute to and from work, they won’t be subject to the “work drama” that often distracts them from their work. But productivity isn’t the only opportunity to save money; by having employees work remotely, businesses save money on overhead expenses, like office space and supplies.
- Remote Options Create More Attractive Part-Time Work. Most businesses could benefit greatly from having a healthy team of part-time employees helping with specific projects and needs. Unfortunately, commutes and having to physically be somewhere during the day makes finding good part-time employees difficult. By allowing workers to be remote, you can make part-time work for your business much more attractive. Similarly, many of these potentially part-time positions can be filled remotely by contractors, people who are paid only for the work they do, rather than you paying them a guaranteed salary on payroll. Remote contractors are a subset of remote workers that provide huge benefits to businesses, creating quality work and costing much (much) less than traditional “in-house” employees.
- Remote Positions Offer a Better Pool of Candidates. For centuries, business have been confined to where they are located, having to look in their direct vicinity and find the best of what’s there. But, thanks to technology, more and more jobs can be done successfully from anywhere in the world, which means your talent pool just got a whole lot bigger. Instead of having to “make do” with candidates who are local, businesses willing to offer remote positions can be much more particular about who they hire and why.
Not all positions can be done remote successfully. In some cases, remote workers are simply not an option. But, in many cases, remote workers are a great option for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Yes, it may take some adjustments to get used to new workflows, but, in the long run, this shift will turn into a huge asset for your company – and your employees (wherever they may be).