Remote work isn’t a new concept, but with the rise of certain technologies, it has become easier and more productive than ever. Currently, remote workers are actually more productive than in-house teams, and there’s a growing trend among prominent companies of hiring remote workers. Here’s how remote working is actually improving the work environment overall, and how your business can benefit from this practice.
1. Less Pressure
If you’ve ever worked in a high-pressure office environment, you know that a break is always welcome. Even if you function well in high-pressure work environments, no one can work that way indefinitely. Burnout occurs much more often in these types of environments and can cause workers to disengage, quit, or even experience health issues ranging from depression to heart problems.
Less pressure usually means more productivity and less chance of errors. When you allow remote workers to complete tasks in their own preferred environment, you’re fostering much more productivity. Maybe your workers don’t like a cramped office cubicle, and would rather work from their backyard or favorite bookstore. Imagine how much more productive you would be if you weren’t crammed into an office for eight hours per day!
The bottom line is that people are most productive when they feel at peace. With less pressure in a home or other environment, you’ll find that your remote workers actually begin to surpass your in-house team as far as production goes.
2. Fewer Social Problems
Let’s be honest here; anytime you get a group of people together under the same roof for extended periods of time, you’re going to run into issues. Some people simply aren’t compatible with each other, and this can cause a number of issues from arguments to harassment and other work-related disagreements. Not to mention, being stuffed in an office all day is enough to make anyone a little on-edge!
With remote teams, everyone works from their own comfortable space. This generally leads to a sense of calm and makes social problems much less frequent. While disagreements and arguments can still occur in the mobile conferencing app or whatever communication medium your team uses, it’s much less frequent and intense.
3. Flexibility
Employees appreciate flexibility more than just about anything else form an employer, and remote teams have access to greater flexibility than most in-house teams. Working from home means you’ll still get to live your life from home while getting work done. You’ll be able to schedule yourself time away when you need it and won’t have to worry about missing a day at the office due to illness or a doctor’s appointment.
Flexibility helps workers feel like they’re in control of their own destiny, and not subservient to the company’s beckoning call. While there’s still a level of commitment and responsibility involved (after all, you still need to complete your tasks), remote team members find that greater flexibility actually makes their jobs and their lives easier.
4. Greater Diversity
Adding diversity to the workplace can be tough when you’re limited to hiring in a specific area, but remote teams, you can pretty much hire anyone from anywhere in the world! Whether you’re a small business in Arizona looking to add diversity to your roster, or a huge corporation in NYC, hiring remote workers gives you access to a much more diverse pool of potential candidates than simply hiring in your geographic location.
Adding diversity to the workplace can make it culturally enriched and a fulfilling place to work for everyone. There’s no better way to create a well-rounded team than by hiring people from different ethnicities, countries, and backgrounds. Don’t limit yourself to geographic location; add some diversity to your company by hiring remote workers.
You won’t have to worry about time zones or different currencies, either. PayPal can handle currency exchanges with ease when you pay invoices, and many team and project management apps actually account for differing time zones to help everyone sync up.
5. Less Burnout
Burnout is a real condition that occurs when employees feel overworked and stressed. This can cause a serious drop in productivity, faith in the company, and an overall sense of exhaustion. Burnout is something you’ll want to avoid at all costs, and providing opportunities for employees to work remotely can do just that.
By working remotely, employees are choosing the environment in which they’ll complete their work, maximizing their productivity and drive. Would you be able to work better in the comfort of your favorite coffee shop with your headphones in, or in an office cubicle with noise all around? While the answer isn’t the same for everyone, most would argue that the former is the better option.
Conclusion
Overall, remote working is changing the way companies get their projects done; leading to less burnout, increased productivity, greater diversity, and a general sense of well-being for employees. Try remote options today and watch your company’s productivity increase!