The Benefits And Challenges Of Employee Remote Work

While early predictions suggested that this new trend was a passing fad likely to end with the pandemic, it’s now clear that remote work is here to stay. “It’s trust—it’s the fear that people will shirk, and I think it’s the lack of clarity from the academic research as well,” Choudhury says. You can even include employee profiles and social networking apps on a modern intranet, making it more desirable to use. If an employee can structure their day around their work they won’t take unnecessary time off. If any employee feels a little under the weather they’re more likely to keep working if they work from home. They don’t have to travel whilst feeling unwell and can rest if they need to.

If a worker knows they’re an early bird, they may wish to start a little earlier to meet the deadline and then finish earlier. Or, if they’re a night owl, they may choose to work a little later and then finish early the following day. When workers aren’t spending money on lunches out, nice work clothes and those random trips to the store on the way home, the change quickly adds up. Having the option to work remotely can also stop the spread of illnesses—something that launched working from home into the spotlight to start with—and can therefore ensure the workforce stays strong. Based on this statistical analysis, remote work is not going anywhere any time soon.

Remote Work: a Benefit to Companies and Employees

Many of the examiners also benefited financially by bringing their Greater Washington, DC, salaries to less costly regions, effectively increasing their real incomes. Early- and mid-career workers tended to choose locations based on future career considerations, while workers with longer tenures flocked to “retirement-friendly” destinations, such as Florida. Obviously, certain industries won’t be able to adopt remote work policies. However, for positions that can be performed remotely, it’s to your company’s advantage to explore a more flexible work environment. It stands to reason that if your staff is primarily remote, you won’t need to maintain as much (increasingly expensive) office space.

Based on a patent’s average value, this productivity gain could add $1.3 billion of value to the US economy each year, the researchers estimate. One survey suggests that companies can save $11,000 annually on average per part-time remote employee, translating to 21% greater profitability. Moreover, 34% of employees responding to a 2019 Owl Labs survey indicated they’d take a pay cut for a remote position. They’re more readily able to schedule doctor visits, eat healthier food, work out and practice better self-care habits.

Enhanced corporate social responsibility

This newest iteration — called JN.1 — has become the dominant variant over the last few months. Fortunately, research has shown that there is no increased risk or severity with JN.1 versus other variants, but it’s still important to keep yourself safe. As you likely know, COVID how companies benefit when employees work remotely has changed a lot since it first started the global pandemic in 2020. Because the virus can’t be cured, new variants arise on a consistent basis, continuing to be a problem for those infected. Stay informed on the top business tech stories with Tech.co’s weekly highlights reel.