With remote work now usually considered to be the norm, it’s important to understand the hidden realities of working remotely. When you’re on the go, it’s easy to think that you’re “working” when the reality is that the majority of your time is spent on mundane tasks.
If you’re in a different time zone from your team members, or if your office is too noisy, or if you feel you don’t get enough sleep, you may ask yourself “am I going to be able to work effectively from home, or should I work from my office?” While some people thrive in a remote environment, others may not be so lucky. In fact, there are some facts that may surprise you about working from home.
As a remote worker, you’ve heard a lot about the downsides to working from home. You may have read stories about how working from home is bad for you or that it’s a terrible way to learn a new skill. The truth is that working from home is a wonderful way to work, and here are the little-known facts about working remotely that will help you make this a reality.
Employees are happier
Working remotely is a new phenomenon for many, but it is undoubtedly helping people become more productive and happier. A recent survey revealed that 90% of US workers felt they weren’t using all their brains and that they weren’t as healthy as they could be. Remote workers can be productive and enjoy an active lifestyle without leaving their homes all day.
Discipline is essential
You can work anywhere in the world, but your work does not have to be there. If you are in a remote area, you are likely to work from home, in your daily work, or you may only work remotely during part of the day. The reality is that you cannot fully work without structure, so you need to be self-disciplined so that you can work effectively.
Independent work space is important
Remote work allows you to work in an open, completely different time zone or environment that suits you. Owning your own space is essential for remote work, which means that when you are trying to concentrate, no one can interrupt you, make calls, or bother you at work. It is also important to have your own space for other reasons, especially if there is a place where you can be creative, or there is a place for meditation or yoga.
Reduce employee turnover
Remote work has been around for years but is only now starting to work its way into the mainstream. Remote workers can take advantage of their work locations without leaving home, saving time and money. They’re also taking advantage of the fact that they’re able to focus on their work, without having to worry about how they look or how they talk.
For many, remote work is an effective way to reduce costs, increase profits, and provide employees with the flexibility they need. But is remote work the right choice for all companies? There are no easy answers when it comes to remote work. Some employers are convinced remote work is essential, while others explain it with caution when it comes to employee retention.
At any given workplace, employee turnover can be very costly. The financial impact results in lost productivity, potentially expensive recruitment, and training costs, and sometimes even reduced morale.
Being a remote worker means that you can work away from your desk and choose your working hours. This means that you can work from home any time of day, putting you in control of when you work and the hours you work. It also means you don’t have to put up with the stress of commuting or working with people you don’t like.
Improve employee productivity
So you’ve heard of remote work, but you still don’t know what it is, why it benefits employees, and what you need to know to get started. Your company may already have implemented remote work policies, or they may plan to implement these policies in the near future. Either way, remote work can be an effective way to increase employee productivity, especially in modern workforces that are usually distributed in different locations. Compared with traditional work, facial expression work is more likely to increase productivity because you can serve customers more fully without distraction.
Remote work is a healthier choice
Workplace issues, such as stress, unhealthy food choices, sleep deprivation, and poor-quality relationships, are bigger problems than many realize. Remote workers have become an increasingly popular alternative to office-based employees for several reasons, one of which being the health benefits associated with the lifestyle. Remote work is healthy because the scheduling flexibility and lower stress levels it provides leads to a lower risk of health problems and a higher quality of life.
Remote work is better for the environment than daily commuting
The main reason remote work is better for the environment than daily commuting is that it reduces the need for commuting, thus cutting down on traffic and parking spaces. Theoretically, this reduces the number of vehicles on the road, and hence congestion and carbon emissions. Another way that remote work benefits the environment is that it reduces the number of items needed to transport workers to their workplaces.
Reduce overhead costs
Working from home is no longer a privilege reserved for a select few, but a reality for almost every worker. In the past decade, employees have been on the move more frequently, telecommuting or even working from home, more often. And for many, it has been a great way to cut costs and increase productivity. But while it might seem like a great way to cut costs, the reality is that remote work can have a significant set of costs associated with it.
Staffing remote teams is an effective way to reduce overhead costs, reduce your carbon footprint, and give employees more flexibility to work from home. There are three main reasons to establish a remote team: to reduce overhead costs, to reduce your company’s carbon footprint, and to give employees more flexibility to work from home.