As technology continues to evolve at a fast pace, so will the ability to work at home. In fact, research conducted by Pennsylvania State University points to a host of benefits of telecommuting, including increased employee satisfaction and reduced business costs. Here are some reasons employers should consider letting their staff work at home, at least on a part time basis:
1. Cheaper Telecommuting for Everyone
Running a brick and mortar office space can quickly become expensive for an employer. From renting office space and buying equipment to utility costs and maintenance costs, the cost per employee can be an enormous drain on a company’s finances.
Companies that choose to use a virtual office rather than a physical space cot to save thousands of dollars per year per staff member. Virtual offices allow businesses to maintain their professional image while significantly reducing overhead costs.
Telecommuting is a much cheaper option than working in a conventional office from an employee perspective too. Secondary costs such as gas, car maintenance, lunches, and experienced attire go hand-in-hand with traditional office work, but aren’t required for telecommuting positions.
2. People who telecommute are happier with their jobs
There’s a lot to be said for workers who love their jobs. People who are pleased at work tend to stay in their jobs longer and are more motivated to work harder. Happy employees are an asset to any company.
3. More Productive Work-at-Home Staff
Contrary to popular belief, people are literally working from home more productive than those who go to the office every day. With less time wasted traveling to and from the office, home-based workers can get to work faster. Plus, because telecommuters have more control over their schedules, they can make adjustments to accommodate things like their doctor’s appointments and children’ schedules without losing lots of valuable work time.
4. Telecommuting Leads to Better Work-Life Balance
An employee claims to be sick. Someone else’s car broke down just as he was about to leave for work. A huge snowstorm forced most of your staff to stay home. These are all common problems that cause employers to lose thousands of dollars in productivity every year.
However, when employees are allowed to work at home, they can take an appropriate strike work life balance by meeting these demands without compromising company profits.
5. Allowing Staff to Telecommute is a Greener Option
For employers looking to reduce their carbon footprint, allowing employees to work at home is a terrific way to go environmental care. Not only does it reduce air pollution because there aren’t any trips to and from the office, but it also reduces the amount of paper waste generated because most interactions are done digitally.
6. There’s a Bigger and Better Pool of Employees to Choose from
Every employer strives to hire the better of the best, but that’s hard to do when you are limited to picking from the people around the office. Allowing your company’s work to be done digitally, however, opens the door to a wider pool of likely better employees.
Telecommuting makes it possible to hire anyone from anywhere in the world (if you so choose), supplying you with access to potentially more knowledgeable and experienced personnel.
Telecommuting is a viable option for many industries. It’s a smart business strategy that results in happier employees, saves money, reduces turnover, and increases productivity. With so many benefits surrounding the prospect of work-from-home, it is worth considering one for your own business.
