In today’s workforce, there are nearly 5 million Americans who work remotely part-time. Analysts predict that nearly 70% of the workforce will be remote by 2025. Remote work isn’t something new to companies. There were companies already offering this to their employees, but the remote work trend was expedited by the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing. Companies had the option of joining the remote work trend in order to keep their businesses operational. It was now time to evaluate whether remote work was right for their business.
The Benefits of Remote Work
Reduced Operating Expenses
With a remote workforce, organizations either significantly reduce the amount of physical office space or eliminate it entirely. This also alleviates the burden of office space logistics, such as: supplies, maintenance, and rent. The savings could add up to an average of $11,000 in operating cost savings per employee.
Larger Talent Pool
A remote workforce opens a global pool of candidates, without being restricted to geographical location. This can help to create a more diverse and multi-talented team.
Satisfied Employees
Many employees prefer working remotely over having to go into the office every day. The reduced commute time and associated costs alone makes working from home the more attractive option. The flexible hours and convenience could also help you create a more satisfied, loyal team.
More Productive Employees
Working from home may increase productivity by up to 77%. This is because people are regularly interrupted at the office, and research shows it takes about 23 minutes to refocus after a distraction. Also, employees would be willing to work overtime given there wouldn’t be a need to worry about the commute back home.
While there are distractions at home, they are easier to control and manage. The net result is that you get more value out of your employees.
Potential Downsides to Remote Work
Building Team Chemistry Can Be Challenging
Working from home can be a challenge for team building. Employees won’t have the opportunity to interact with one another in common spaces nor have in-person meetings to build social connections. Businesses may need to get creative to form social bonds through a virtual setting.
Cybersecurity Concerns
Employees may need to access sensitive information from their own devices and networks. This may open more potential security vulnerabilities and exposure to threats than connecting to a private, in-office network.
A Balanced Opportunity
An option to balance both in-office and remote work opportunities, is a hybrid option. Offering employees an option to work from home and be in the office retains some of the benefits and advantages of both while alleviating the challenges.
Some employees prefer being in the office and are more comfortable in that setting. The hybrid work model accommodates both groups. While this option still requires maintaining in-office operations and remote access services, it may provide a better work experience.
If You Think Remote Work is Right for Your Business, Contact AEI Today
Depending on your business model and services, the benefits of remote work may exceed the disadvantages of offering remote work to your employees. If this option is right for you, you can create a remote workforce that is productive, agile, and cost effective.
If you are ready to invest in providing remote work at your company, AEI can help customize your remote work infrastructure. Our dedicated team specializes in cloud services and remote site configurations.
Get in touch with us to learn more about our solutions for your business.