The current economic climate has made being an entrepreneur more challenging than ever. From record-low interest rates to increasing competition, it’s no wonder so many people are taking up entrepreneurship as a way to make ends meet. Moreover, there’s also a shifting culture when it comes to working. Gone are the days of the 9 to 5, and remote working is now the norm for many businesses. In this blogpost, you’ll learn about the rise of remote working, why it’s become so popular, and what you can do about it. Read on to discover why remote working has taken over, and what you can do about it as an entrepreneur.
Working remotely has become the norm for many of today’s professionals. And for good reason. Remote working offers a tremendous amount of flexibility, allowing employees to work from wherever they have the greatest access to their employer’s resources. Remote work has become so prevalent that it’s even been listed as a top reason for the growing shortage of skilled software developers. But while the benefits of remote working are well documented, there’s also a lot of cause for concern. Remote working can be a double-edged sword, so to speak. So, what are the positives, and what can you do to adjust to working remotely? If you’re looking to adopt remote working into your office culture, this article is for you!
Why Remote Working Has Taken Over – And What you Can Do About It
Remote working may not be new, but its recent boom has made it a much more visible phenomenon. From software development to customer service, companies of all types are embracing the flexible work options remote workers offer. As a result, there are many more remote workers now than there were ten years ago. Or, rather, there are more workers who want the flexibility remote working offers. The length of a job, the skills of the people doing it and the office culture are a few of the factors that have led to remote working being adopted in some areas of the workforce. Other occupations will have to adapt to make remote working a viable option. Here are a few reasons why working remotely is becoming so popular and what you can do to start embracing remote working at your workplace.
Remote working is accessible
Technology has broken down many of the barriers remote work presents, allowing people to work from anywhere in the world. Organizations of all sizes, from large corporations and government agencies to small businesses and startups, are embracing remote work. Thanks to the Internet, people who are unable to leave their locations can work remotely.
It may be possible to work remotely in a specific job, but not in all jobs. Remote work will vary greatly depending on the industry and job type. Doctors and lawyers may be able to do their jobs remotely, but an accountant may not be able to.
The flexibility of remote work often comes with a cost. Organizing your remote working lifestyle is difficult.
People are more aware of the flexibility
Because of the increased use of remote work, more people are aware of its flexibility. The flexibility of remote work is one of the reasons it’s become so popular.
People who have a flexible work style prefer remote working because of the flexibility it offers. They don’t want to be restricted to working from a certain location, or stuck in a 9-5 schedule. Remote workers don’t have to worry about traffic, weather or other unpredictable factors that make commuting difficult.
Networking is a big part Of Workplace Culture
Many people choose to work remotely because of the networking possibilities. It’s easier to meet people online than in-person. Networking online can occur over email, Slack and other messaging platforms, or social media.
Networking is a big part of workplace culture for many people who choose to work remotely. Some organizations have strict networking rules, but in the real world, most people can meet up.
Shorter Job Tasks are a big part
Another reason people are choosing to work remotely is the shortening of job tasks. There are many more tasks people can perform remotely than there used to be. When people don’t have to commute to work, spending time on activities they enjoy, like reading or crafting, is possible. This quickens the pace at which tasks are completed because it frees up time that could have been spent waiting for other people to arrive or finish tasks.
18 Reasons to Consider Remote Employees in 2021
1. Advancement in Technology Has Made It Easier
Remote work has become what it is today due to the many advances in technology. Revolutionary tech tools like a cloud to monitor virtual employees and other mechanization have overwhelmingly contributed to the increasing popularity of remote employees. Due to online communication tools working from home has eased its way into the conventional employer-employee relationship.
2. More Productive Employees/Lesser Leaves
According to Flexjobs “a number of studies reveal that remote employees are more productive than office employees.” Clearly, like anyone else, at-home workers have their off-days. Despite that, research shows that they are usually more productive and less likely to take off from work.
3. Businesses Can Avoid Infrastructure Cost
In many cases, remote employees have their own equipment. This is especially true of freelancers who may work for different companies and consider themselves self-employed. Moreover, businesses save on office space including electricity, office furniture, and Wi-Fi. Saving on the cost of office space alone is a tremendous benefit and can be utilized to increase business revenue.
4. Escaping the Stress of the Dreaded Commute
Studies show that 82 percent of remote workers believe that not working in a traditional office decreases their stress level. One reason is that at-home employees get to skip the dreaded commute and have the freedom to organize their work to suit their lifestyles and not vice-versa. This obviously contributes to lower stress levels and increased productivity. In fact, companies that use remote workers claim that they are more apt to put in the additional time because they don’t have to commute and therefore, are more relaxed and flexible
5. Employees Save on Expenses
The average remote employee can save a few thousand dollars a year. Savings include things like gas, lunches, clothing, and over $800 a year on car maintenance according to AAA figures.
6. Access to Global Talent
Employers have a choice of the best talent in the world! Some companies have enough resources to hire individuals or teams regardless of where they are located globally. Using an employer of record (EOR) service is the easiest way for your company to leverage a global workforce as local compliance, payroll, tax forms and more are all done for you. That means you can hire the best worldwide candidates without setting up any overseas entities.
As a result, you can easily focus on employees with the specific skills needed to complete the tasks while growing your businesses internationally!
7. Access to Talent at Lower Costs
Because companies hiring remote employees have the pick-of-the-crop, training costs are literally a non-issue. From a business perspective, by hiring outside contractors, only the work assigned and completed is compensated rather than having to pay a full payroll. The savings can be immense! Another unanticipated benefit is that due to their savings on commuting costs, for example, remote employees have little resistance to accepting a small decrease in salary.
8. A decrease in Employee Turnover
Research performed by Stanford University states that providing a choice to work remotely reduced employee turnover and job deterioration dropped by more than 50 percent. Over 80 percent of professionals confessed that their loyalty to the company would increase if they had more accommodating work options. Statistics reveal that workers with options are more contented and less likely to leave the company.
9. Enhanced Work-Life Balance
Many remote workers cite that improved work-life balance is a key reason for working remotely. They take pleasure in the independence to arrange their working day when they are the most productive and efficient, while also making time for their family life. Possibly the most important strategy remote employees can apply is time management in order to create an ideal work-life balance.
10. Improved Employee Engagement
Remote employees frequently accomplish and transcend their objectives. This is partly due to the increased satisfaction with their job and flexible schedule. Telecommuters feel more in control and confident. The ‘boss constantly looking over the shoulder’ syndrome is all but obliterated. Workers become less hostile and more engaging.
11. Less Time Wasted on Coffee Breaks and Chatting
Hanging around the water cooler chatting and taking coffee breaks at every possible
opportunity are activities employers have no need to worry about with remote employees. What’s more, companies save on accouterments like coffee capsules and other extras. No more employees taking off time to run to the nearest Starbucks for a non-fat Frappuccino with extra whipped cream and chocolate sauce.
12. No Office Politics
For remote workers, it’s easier to keep a low-profile and stay free of office politics. Office politics are unavoidable in a traditional office as workers are competing for the same promotions and raise. In some respects, workplaces are very similar to high school environments, which many staff members would rather avoid.
13. Decentralization of Workforce
Due to the convenience of remote working, employees are no longer required to live in the same city or the same country as the company that employs them. In fact, in the US, towns are diligently promoting the movement back to rural districts and small towns rather than living in cities. In many instances, in rural areas the high-speed broadband is superb and real estate is cheaper. Smaller towns are being redeveloped into business hubs and forming an economic hub for the community.
14. Saves Environment
Eco-friendly decisions are increasingly becoming a priority with many companies. For
example, IBM for years has exercised an extensive environmentally aware approach to
their work ethics. Employees working from home is environmentally beneficial.
They decrease air pollution due to less driving; they create less waste from
Styrofoam cups and plastics and use less electricity.
15. Staying Ahead of Trends and Learning from Peers in Other Places
Building bridges among the global workforce benefits the company and its employees. Companies get the advantage of exposure in a new area learning about the culture and how to suit their needs. Remote workers have the advantage via technology to connect with others learning about new environments and languages.
16. 24/7 Accessibility
One of the biggest advantages of hiring remote employees is access to around-the-
clock production anytime and anywhere. Businesses can operate 24/7 with adequate customer service representatives. Having workers on-the-ready in key time zones assisting customers is a boost for any business.
17. Different Regions-Different Skills
Another perk of having access to a broader pool of workers is diversity. If a company requires employees to translate documents or write an advertisement in another language than their own, there are plenty of options. This increases customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. Employing a global team helps individuals from various cultures learn and assist each other by sharing ideas that can be utilized regardless of location.
18. Localize Support to Customers
Various languages, cultures, and traditions can enhance or destroy business dealings. By providing localized support, a company shows that the customer matters by adapting to their needs and challenges. By observing the different time zones, holidays, devout observances, and workweek, a company proves their loyalty by providing support at the customer’s convenience with a real person rather than a robotic voice without the ability to offer personal attention.
Conclusion
Remote work is an excellent option for those looking for flexibility. It’s becoming the norm for many professionals, and it’s highly likely you’re already a remote worker. But there are still a few reasons why people choose to work remotely. If your job doesn’t allow for remote work, you may want to think about switching to a company that offers it. If you’re already a remote worker, you can use the tips in this article to make the most of your situation.