When you hire employees, specifically those that may work together as a team on projects throughout the year, it is not very likely that you envisions one or some of them working remotely from home or other locations other than the office. Obviously, there are certain advantages to having all your team members in one place and one or two missing team members can certainly hold up production and progress, right? Actually, thanks to today's technology and resources, working remotely, even when part of a team, does not have to be a hindrance. In fact, it can even be more advantageous than everyone together under one roof.
Studies have shown that there are in fact significant advantages to letting some of your team members and other employees work remotely. Additionally, many entrepreneurs and managers have reported that productivity and the quality of the work has actually improved when some employees are allowed to work from home or another location during part of the day. Some individuals are more inclined to be more productive when in an environment that they find more conducive to their work. Sometimes that may be a place other than the office, where constant interruptions and input from fellow colleagues can ruin a good workflow.
Below you will find 7 reasons why it might be a good idea to let your employees work remotely, as well as some tools and resources that can be used to facilitate such actions and ensure that workflow continues to run smoothly.
1. Happiness
A good manager wants their employees to be happy, right? You should, because studies show that a happy employee is a productive employee. And sometimes for an employee to be happy, that means getting out of the office. You may not want to admit it, but an office, especially large ones, can be toxic. Office gossip, office politics, low morale, and a general feeling of being trapped in the building can all be factors that result in an unproductive, unhappy workforce. So long as an employee can work from home and still remain as productive as you expect them to be while in the office, why not let them do so and enable them to be happy?
2. Improved Production
One of the direct results of employee happiness is improved production. Sitting at the same desk every day, staring at the same computer screen, speaking to the same people-well, some might argue that it is just a part of general work life. However, it does not have to be. Change up and employee's work environment, and you may find that productivity actually improves. An employee that works remotely benefits from personal happiness, an environment they find more conducive to work, and subsequently produces better quality work.
3. Saving Money on Office Space
Allowing several members of your staff to work from home can result in a big savings on your office expenses, and office space in general. If you do not have a large office to begin with, it only makes sense to allow some employees to work remotely, especially if they are only providing you with services part-time.
4. Saving Money on Office Supplies and Equipment
A horde of employees using the printer, making coffee in the break room, using janitorial supplies, etc., can quickly add up to a lot of expense. However, employees who work remotely will help you save significantly on office supply expenses as well.
5. Not Limited to Hiring Locally
Having trouble finding local talent to fill up your ranks. If the job is something that can be done remotely, such as writing content for websites or an online marketing campaign, then you can easily hire employees from anywhere in the world and have them work remotely. This is also a great way to find freelancers for specific projects that you might not need a full-time employee for. And with apps such as UberConference, you can easily view the progress of specific projects and share documents with the remote screen sharing feature.
6. Opportunity for Hiring More Enthusiastic Workers
Studies have shown that a good percentage of employees would choose working from home over a pay raise. If you can offer the option of telecommuting to a prospective employee during the interview process, you may find a more enthusiastic employee ready to work and produce. And with project management apps such as Basecamp, you can easily manage one or several employees and their projects.
7. More Insight into Other Markets
When you hire employees in other locations to work remotely, you can tap into their knowledge of the local area to see if it is viable for expansion or marketing potential. Learn how best to take advantage of your remote works, ensuring a mutually beneficial working relationship for all.