Although COVID-19 is not gone completely, most people have returned to somewhat of a sense of normal. They go out to meet with friends, invite people into their homes, and some have returned to work in the office. However, many offices have actually decided to stick with the remote business model permanently, whether full-time or by offering it as an option to employees.
Amid the pandemic, some offices that never would have considered remote work before found that their company actually thrived when their employees had the freedom to work from home. In today’s blog, let’s go over some reasons why people and businesses are sticking with remote work models even now at the end of 2023.
#1 – More Engaged Employees
According to an article from BBC, many companies have decided to stick with remote work for philosophical reasons instead of financial ones. They found that when employees worked from home, they were more engaged with their work, more fulfilled, and more productive in the way that worked best for them. They no longer had to put on a traditional presentation of being productive and moving away from that image-based focus allowed those companies to focus instead on the work itself.
#2 – Cost Saving Benefits
That’s not to say there aren’t financial benefits to remote business models. For one thing, companies are able to save thousands on office equipment. Rather than furnishing each employee with a desk and a computer, employees work from their own home office setup. You no longer have to hire an IT staff to service all the computers in the office or to handle the printers, copiers, and scanners. Not to mention having to pay for the office space itself every month. Most of your equipment costs will come instead from purchasing a cloud software that the team can work from, which often has its own support team built in. And if your entire team is remote, you don’t have to pay rent for your office.
#3 – Attracts Newer Talent to the Company
Much of Gen Z joined the workforce during the pandemic. Their first jobs were remote work jobs, and they became used to that work setup. Going back into the office full-time is a jarring change, and for many younger professionals, it’s not worth the hassle of the commute and giving up their home office. By keeping a remote business model, your business becomes more attractive for the younger talent in the workforce. If you don’t offer remote work at least as an option, they’re more likely to look elsewhere.
#4 – Boosts Employee Retention
Remote work can also help you to retain the talent you already have. With remote work, employees are able to spend more time with their families and work in the way that is best for them. They have more freedom and flexibility with their work process without feeling as though their supervisor is looking over their shoulder the whole time. That freedom can be difficult to give up after three years to return to life at the office. When they are told that remote work remains an option even after all the lockdowns and quarantines, they will feel more valued and more free when it comes to their work. This may make them more likely to stay with your company.
#5 – Makes Your Workplace More Accessible
Sometimes there are employees who would be perfect for your company, but they’re not able to access your physical office building. They may be wheelchair-bound, and your office building may not accommodate wheelchair users, or they may take public transportation and find that there’s no way to reach your office conveniently. They may be a single parent who can’t leave their children at home alone or afford a babysitter.
None of these issues hamper remote work. Employees can work from wherever it’s most convenient for them, and you can enjoy working with people that you might not otherwise have been able to.
#6 – Flexibility of Work Schedule
On top of that, working from home also offers stronger flexibility when it comes to schedule. Your office is no longer bound to 9-5. If your employees work better during the evening, they can do so. If you outsource to teams in different time zones, you won’t have to worry about everyone’s schedule syncing. As long as the work gets in within the deadline, you can stay productive while having flexibility that you never had in a brick-and-mortar office. This is a benefit that both employees and executives have loved since the popularity of remote work.
