Recently we are experiencing a revolution in the traditional, onsite model of work. An increasing number of employees tend to choose remote or semi-remote work over a nine-to-five stationary job. Big changes can be beneficial or destructive, but in this case, the change seems to bring many benefits.
In this article, we will present 5 reasons why you should seriously consider hiring a remote team or introducing occasional remote work outside the office for stationary employees. We will tell you about the benefits of this type of employment and the problems you will have to deal with. So if you are looking for useful information that will help you make the final decision, you have come to the right place.
In 2016, 43% of Americans said that they use remote work opportunities from time to time. However, this percentage increases every year and is now becoming a popular trend not only in the US but around the world in every kind of organizations. This is not surprising – remote work allows you to spend more time with your family, increase your efficiency, and ensure yourself comfort when working on days when we feel weaker or when we want to go for a trip. Thanks to working from outside the office, people can perform their duties from anywhere, so they have the opportunity to travel, explore the world, and make their dreams come true without having to take a vacation.
The technology is on their side – new clock in/out tools and absence management solutions are appearing on the market every now and then, which significantly facilitates the introduction of and controlling remote work for companies and startups.
Here are 5 reasons why you should not be afraid of implementing remote work in your organization.
Regardless of your private opinion about remote work, the truth is that the trend mentioned above will grow even more in the coming years. This is influenced not only by the Generation Y mentality, which we mentioned in our earlier article but also by the development of the IT market. More and more websites are being created that focus on searching for remote jobs and earn a competitive salary (i.e. Upwork). There are also more and more online tools that help leaders manage remote teams and hire employees in remote work mode. Products like Asana, Basecamp, or HR and attendance tracking tools like Calamari are gaining popularity every day. There are many more such tools, which only proves how much demand there is on the market. If you want to know more tools for remote work management, check out our article, and choose the perfect solution for your organization.
By choosing to employ remote workers, you increase your chances of employing the most talented specialists. It often happens that the ideal candidate lives in another city and you had to give up on him. Remote work solves this problem. You can find the perfect specialist even from the other end of the world and enjoy fruitful cooperation using the facilities offered by remote work management tools.
Millennials value remote work very much. This is due to their approach to life and work, which is different from previous generations. Generation Y wants to explore the world, develop, and combine work with their interests. Thanks to the opportunity to work outside of the office, they are able to realize their passions. At the same time, it is a generation with great skills and very knowledgeable about technologies, which is why your company can benefit a lot from their experience. The ability to work remotely is of great importance to Millennials. They often reject offers because of its lack. By opening up to the remote work model, you increase the chance of finding young, talented employees who will bring a lot of good to your organization. It is worth using this option while remote work is a growing trend, not a standard.
According to the latest research, employees who spend 60-80% of their time working remotely are more involved and productive. They are grateful that their managers trust and ensure their comfort of work, allowing them to stay where they want, which builds better relationships in the organization and makes employees more loyal. Remote work requires much more discipline and self-organization from people and allows the employee to concentrate on performing their tasks without distraction, making them much more efficient. You're surprised? Check on your own ;)
Hiring remote employees also benefit the company's budget. You can save money on renting and equipping the office and providing basic kitchen equipment: coffee, tea, juices, and the like. Eliminating these costs will allow you to allocate your budget to other important purposes – for example, new software or replacing employees' electronic equipment.
Remote work has a lot of advantages, but like any solution – it also has its drawbacks. In the daily life of the company, building relationships between employees in a team, direct communication, and interpersonal interactions are important both for the smooth operation of the organization and for ensuring the well-being of employees. When deciding on remote work, you will need to put more emphasis on building relationships between employees, which is associated with increased work of the HR department.
However, we want to emphasize that this does not mean that you should be afraid of remote work. Employees appreciate this option, so if you approach it in a thoughtful way and take care of all aspects, there will be no problems.
Want to know more about remote company management? Follow our blog and stay up to date!
Get monthly insights and make HR simple with us
