Working virtually has its perks for employees – more flexibility, more time at home, no stressful commute, and freedom from distractions are just a few. Most employees, when given the option to work virtually one or more days a week, won’t pass up the opportunity. Often when benefits like these are given to employees, the cost falls on the businesses. However, when it comes to the perks of working from home, businesses actually benefit, too – especially when it comes to money.
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Employees get more work done
One might think that there are more distractions at home than in the office. While kids, pets, and chores might loom in the household, employees know how to manage these distractions. The kinds of distractions that occur in the office – such as conversations among coworkers, overhearing phone calls, and other office noise – are more unpredictable. Employees who work from home know they have full reign over their time management, and they tend to make the most of it. With the ability to control their environment and limit distractions, focus improves immensely, and employees become more productive overall, generating revenue and limiting losses.
Good workers will stay with you longer
Having the privilege of working at home makes employees feel more loyal to their employer, as it shows that their company is working in their best interest. Not all businesses will provide a work-from-home option, and that perk is a strong draw to keep them working for you for years to come. It also shows a certain degree of mutual trust, which is one of the essential building blocks of a good working relationship. Keeping employees means that a business won’t have to spend extra time and money interviewing and hiring new ones, and they won’t lose output due to staff leaving.
Fully virtual employees don’t need an office
Some employees are able to work completely remotely without ever stepping into an office building – except for the occasional in-person meeting, though most meetings can be done remotely through video conferencing. In this case, there’s no need to provide physical office space on the company’s dime. Square footage for businesses can come at quite a high price, so not having to provide space for employees to work, since their office is at home, can save a business a lot of money.
Employees take fewer sick and vacation days
While it’s expected that every employee will take vacation and sick leave, work-from-home employees tend to take fewer, for a simple reason. When employees take vacation and sick leave, they often do so in order to stay home. Remote workers are already at home – and even if they are working, there’s something to be said for being able to do it in comfort, while taking short breaks to get things done around the house or even rest on the couch. Working from home tends to improve one’s mood and mindset, too, so those “mental health” days off are not as needed. This means that businesses lose less work time from employees and may see an upsurge in profits as a result.
A virtual work arrangement is a win-win for employees and businesses. Employees get the benefits of being able to work from home while their satisfaction with it in turn shows rewards for businesses. Working remotely is becoming more popular, especially with videoconferencing technologies that make it possible to meet with anyone, anytime, and anywhere. Knowledge continues to spread about how working virtually can improve both employee quality of life and employer profits simultaneously, and it’s only a matter of time before it becomes more widely embraced.
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