In recent years, remote work has grown by 91%. As of this year, as many as 50% of all workers work remotely at least some of the time. Why do workers prefer to work out of the office and how are employers evolving to accommodate this trend?
Why Your Employees Want to Work Remotely
It’s 2020. New work environments and working solutions, like working from home, coop work spaces, flexible office spaces, and space office solutions are in high demand. In other words, your employees want to work from home or work from their preferred location at least some of the time — and the more often, the better! Here are a few ways employees benefit from working remotely part-time or full-time:
- Less stress. Working from home or wherever they would like keeps employees happy. Remote employees report being 80% less stressed than workers who regularly go into the office.
- Flexible work schedules. There are many benefits to a flexible work schedule, whether it’s the ability to run errands and keep appointments or spending more time with family and being able to work when you’re feeling most productive. Having a flexible schedule promotes better work-life balance and promotes employee satisfaction and retention.
- Money savings. It goes without saying that remote workers do not have to regularly drive to and from work. The gas savings alone may justify the push for remote positions. Remote workers save on childcare costs, clothing, and food costs as well. Keep in mind that savings translate to employers, who can reduce their overhead and other costs related to office staff.
- Comfort. Remote workers can work in pajamas or yoga pants — whatever makes them feel comfortable tet productive. Remote employees can get up for an extra cup of tea or to stretch their legs as often as they need to. Remote workers can go to the gym whenever it best suits them, or go on their daily run at 10 am, rather than trying to fit in time at the gym before dawn. Having more power and control over the working environment means workers will be more comfortable and more productive.
- Eco-friendliness. Telecommuting helps reduce emissions from cars and can help reduce energy use in offices. In other words, it’s an employment decision workers can feel good about!
Why You Want Your Employees to Work Remotely, Too
Working from home, telecommuting, and space office solutions do not benefit employees alone. In fact, employers stand to gain quite a bit from these arrangements. Fewer sick days, greater productivity, and lower costs are just a few of the things employers should expect. More specifically, remote work can reduce unplanned absences and sick days by as much as 63%, according to the American Management Association (AMM). What’s more, employees are likely to recognize all of the benefits of working from home and award companies with their loyalty in turn. A Stanford study showed that 50% fewer employees quit after a company put a work-from-home policy into place.
What’s New For Remote Work In 2020?
With remote work sticking around for the foreseeable future, how is it changing in 2020? Simply put, employees are getting better at working from home and employers are getting better at implementing work-from-home policies. Space office solutions or flexible office space, for example, can provide a necessary space for the occasional big meeting. It can also simply provide a co-working space for employees from different companies. While working from home several days a week is beneficial some employees enjoy the structure of having a designated space to go, when they want to and at their own convenience.
Digital skills and digital marketing skills will continue to grow in demand. Employers will expect workers to be able to navigate the ins and outs of working remotely, and that may mean things like attending meetings remotely, communicating and checking in remotely, or working on group projects remotely.
Finally, small towns and rural areas are more likely to flourish. Workers tend to gravitate toward the city and busy suburbs for work opportunities. With the ability to work from home, more employees are choosing to live wherever they would like and in the environment and locale that best suits them, including small towns and less populated areas.
Remote work is here to stay. Working from their preferred location benefits employees, employers, and small towns. Plus, workers are mastering their digital skills and optimizing space office solutions for the best possible remote work experience.
