Work-from-home professionals enjoy numerous benefits. They can work at their own pace, manage their own time, avoid stressful commutes, and stay close to the family even during busy hours.
Studies also show that working from home is good for the employee’s physical and mental well-being. Not only can they sleep better at night, they also report less exhaustion and higher satisfaction with their work.
However, what does the work-from-home culture mean for businesses?
First of all, it may bother traditional employers who would rather keep a close watch on their workers. Truth be told, allowing your employees to work remotely may have a few drawbacks such as the exposure to distractions at home and the lack of face-to-face communication.
Fortunately, these disadvantages can be easily fixed with the right approach. Businesses only need the right tools such as time-tracking and live conferencing software to keep workers accountable. But of course, careful consideration is required in the part of the employer if you want this setup to work.
To help you understand remote employment, below are some the key advantages that will help you decide if it fits your business:
It is Flexible and Scalable
One of the biggest benefits of the work-from-home culture is the easy access to the world’s pool of talent. Startups and small businesses, in particular, take advantage of finding cost-effective freelancers for short-term projects. As opposed to maintaining a full-time staff, hiring freelancers is also a cheaper option for big businesses when it comes to small-scale activities such as web redesign, event planning, and copywriting.
Although there are several established platforms that help connect businesses with on-demand professionals, new companies like Workfast rise to meet the growing demand for flexible employment.
With Workfast, you can simply post a job order, set your rates, and then wait for freelancers to come to you. Alternatively, you can leverage social networks such as LinkedIn and Facebook to look for potential candidates.
It is Cheaper
Not only will the freelancing industry give you total control of your staff budget, it will also save you a lot of money in the long run. Keep in mind that renting and maintaining a physical office are very costly – from fixture repairs to the monthly bills. You also have to purchase supplies and equipment for your day-to-day business operations.
With a work-from-home setup, employees get to use their own supplies and pay their own bills. Home-based businesses fully utilize this advantage and can operate with virtually zero office costs. On the other hand, businesses with a physical office can still save money since they no longer have to worry about space when hiring freelancers.
It is good for the Environment
Take note that businesses contribute greatly to the burgeoning environmental issues. The main culprits are those in the manufacturing, agriculture, energy, and transportation industries. However, businesses in other sectors also have an impact due to emissions and paper waste.
According to statistics, an average office worker burns through 10,000 sheets of paper each year – 45% of which goes straight to landfill. Brick and mortar offices also produce waste such as empty ink cartridges, coffee cups, and other used supplies. Of course, these can be avoided by running a virtual office.
It Promotes Productivity
Despite an isolated environment and the exposure to distractions at home, evidence actually suggests that work-from-home employees can be more productive than office workers. Keep in mind that telecommuting saves the worker from a ton of stressors – from traffic jams to pollution. As a result, they feel more energetic and focused on the actual work.
Just remember that remote working is not a one-size-fits-all solution. In some situations, family needs can prevent remote employees from fully committing to a task. For example, a work-from-home mother may find herself constantly distracted by having to tend to the children. That said, make sure you assess whether an individual is fit to work independently before hiring them.
Final Words
Working from home is one of the biggest breakthroughs that forever changed the world of business. The bottom line is that any company can leverage the numerous benefits of a work-from-home setup. Just remember to implement the right practices to avoid the possible setbacks.
