To achieve a better work-life balance, a growing number of people are looking for flexible work arrangements.
From an employee’s perspective, working from home has several perks that make their lives easier.
Numerous studies show that remote employment results in a win-win situation for both employee and employer.
Here are six reasons you should explore the option of letting your employees telecommute regularly.
It Increases Worker Productivity
Surprisingly, most workers tend to be more productive in work from home arrangements than in an office environment.
Remote workers tend to be more productive because they are spared the myriad of distractions present in a busy office environment.
Productivity killers that range from loud colleagues, endless meetings, office politics, heavy foot traffic, walk-in clients, and more are rife in most office environments.
For employees whose jobs call for deep concentration, a quiet home environment eliminates distractions to allow them more time to crush their tasks.
It Makes Your Workers More Committed
Telecommuting comes with the risk of workers binging on Netflix or embarking on long shopping trips when they should be working.
Surprisingly, only a small portion of remote workers get suckered in by the newly found freedom.
Allowing workers to telecommute sends a strong message that you value and trust them enough to afford them such privileges.
Research shows that workers who enjoy work from home employment are not only innovative and productive but also tend to be fiercely loyal to the company.
You Get to Streamline Your Workflow
A smooth workflow is central to the success of your business.
Embracing a telecommuting business culture forces you to take a deeper look at your workflow.
With deep insights into the amount of work that needs to be done, you can eliminate bottlenecks and optimize the execution plan.
A smooth workflow improves business productivity and efficiency while letting you increase your turnaround time as well as the quality of service.
You Get to Lower Your Overhead Costs
Utility bills alongside the payroll take a massive chunk out of monthly revenue, drastically reducing your net profit.
Switching to a telecommuting model lets you cut down on each of these costs and grow your profit margins.
For starters, it eliminates the need to rent a vast office space since you only need to accommodate a few essential personnel or none at all.
Secondly, you can switch your hiring models and strictly work with independent contractors instead of full-time employees.
Working with freelancers and independent contractors eliminates some payroll obligations such as medical insurance, retirement benefits, overtime, and more.
You Get to Hire the Best Talent
Skilled workers routinely turn down lucrative job offers if the position entails uprooting their entire life and relocating to a new city.
You can hire the best workers without forcing them to abandon their friends and family in the pursuit of their dream jobs.
Better yet, hiring remote workers lets you tap into the global workforce and staff your company with skilled experts from around the world.
A diverse workforce comprising of top experts from around the world lets you come up with innovative products and increases your global appeal.
You Can Cherry Pick Your Clients
During the growth phase, it’s only natural to go after every client who promises you a payday.
Problem clients tend to be too demanding, slow to pay and dispute every invoice, all of which can suck the joy right out of your work.
They can take up so much of your time with endless complaints to the point of leading you to neglect your other clients, negatively impacting revenue generation and customer satisfaction.
High caliber clients trust your capabilities and won’t set impossible deadlines or try to micromanage your operations.
Don’t Get Left Behind, Let Them Work from Home
In addition to saving time and money on the commute, remote workers are able to tend to their personal needs without asking for time off.
At first glance, it seems working from home skews in favor of the employee, which, naturally, is likely to put employers on edge.
However, you stand to reap benefits by the boatload if you allow your employees the option to work from home.
Printed with permission.
About the Author: Katrina McKinnon is the founder of Small Revolution, which started as a knowledge base for online store owners and has now expanded into offering training for virtual assistants and copywriters. Through Small Revolution, you will learn the skills in a fun and practical way.