In recent years we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of people working from home. While some companies have been quick to jump on the bandwagon, others have been slow on the uptake because they fear the repercussions.
While images of employees spending their days lazing on the sofa may spring to mind, the statistics do in fact show the opposite. Remote working has been found to boost productivity in many ways.
Below we discuss the rise of remote working and the benefits it offers not just to employees, but to businesses as well.
The rise of remote working
A whopping 14 million Brits say they want work flexibility and four million of us have already left the office behind to work primarily from home.
It’s predicted that by 2020, 50% of the UK’s workforce will work remotely. If your business is yet to jump on board with this concept, now is the time to do so.
The benefits to your business
With no commute to contend with, being able to get out of bed a bit later and the flexibility to work around children, remote working offers many benefits to employees. What are the advantages to your business however?
It attracts and retains good employees
Remote working is in demand so if employers aren’t flexible, it could be costing them great candidates.
- 66% of workers say they would work from home given the choice
- 36% of us would choose remote working over a pay rise
- 92% of generation Y say flexibility is a priority when choosing somewhere to work
- 95% of employers say that remote working has had a high impact on employee retention
It creates better employees
One of the biggest concerns among employers is the impact that remote working will have on its teams. Far from distancing them however, working from home allows employees to collaborate with each other without worrying about logistical barriers.
Working from home can also help to create stronger employees because it forces them to be more independent and self-directed.
Reduces absenteeism
Absenteeism costs the UK £77 billion every year in lost productivity. While it’s natural that staff are going to get sick from time-to-time, remote working can help to reduce unscheduled absences.
Not only do flexible hours allow people to schedule appointments more easily rather than taking a full day off work, research shows that remote workers generally continue to work even when they’re ill.
Increases productivity
Remote workers regard themselves as more productive. In a study carried out by CanadaLife, they rated their productivity a 7.7 out of 10. Those working in an office gave themselves a score of 6.5 out of 10.
More than a third (39%) of people who work predominantly from home also say that they work additional hours to get tasks done compared to 24% of those based in an office.
Reduces costs
With more employees working from home, you can rent a smaller office space and less equipment – saving potentially tens of thousands of pounds every year.
Environmentally friendly
It’s important that organisations are seen to be doing their bit for the environment and allowing remote working is just one of the many ways to do this. With a smaller office space and less electricity being used, you’re reducing your carbon footprint. What’s more, with fewer employees travelling to work every day, they’re also having less of an impact on the environment.
If you need help recruiting great candidates into your business, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Choralis Consulting today.
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