Many businesses have already taken the leap to flexible working or are planning to implement workplace policies to support such a change. Companies around the country are facing multiple challenges, including ensuring that their business is agile enough to adapt to change. Even pre-pandemic, research showed that “businesses that haven’t already considered the financial and strategic benefits of flexible workspace need to do so now. Otherwise, they face being seen as out of touch, both with their competitors and with the demands of the modern workforce, which means losing out on the best talent.” (PR Newwire, 2019, para 4).

With a trained remote workforce, employers can benefit. It was shown that employers can save an estimated average of $11,000 per half-time telecommuter per year due to increased productivity, lower real estate costs, reduced absenteeism and turnover, and better disaster preparedness. This savings is not just financial, but in the precious commodity of time. A half-time telecommuter saves the equivalent of 11 work days per year in time they would have otherwise spent commuting. Those who commute longer distances can save more than three times that amount. These estimates assume a 75% reduction in driving on remote days. (GlobalWorkPlaceAnalytics.com).

Numerous studies have found that remote employees tend to be more productive working offsite than onsite (Diab-Bahman 2020; Lister, 2021). Remote workers take fewer sick days. Many remote employees work during the time that they would have spent commuting. Virtual meetings eliminate travel time, even if it’s down the hall. When employees work offsite, they can work uninterrupted without people dropping by to chat.      

While some remote workers increase their productivity, many actually become less productive because they and their managers have no guidance, structure, or strategies for working effectively in the remote environment. WorkforceRemote.org provides certification courses based on our PACE model, which stands for Productivity, Access, Communication, and Engagement. Our interactive courses educate and equip your employees for remote success. Our leadership courses give your managers the understanding and tools that they need to support the productivity of their remote employees.    

References

Diab-Bahman, R., & Al-Enzi, A. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on conventional work settings. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 40(9/10). 909-927 

Lister, K. (2021) The business case for remote work: For employers, employees, the environment, and society. Global Workplace Analytics.