Remote work has been around for some time. Giving employees the option to proceed with their normal workday wherever they please provides a host of benefits. It lowers costs, improves retention, supports work-life balance, and enhances productivity – among many others. You may have been toying with the idea of remote work, but now many organizations are thrust into committing to this strategy due to the current situation. Washington’s Department of Health recommends flexible policies for employees to stay at home if needed, or to consider a work-from-home policy altogether. This unprecedented situation could leave you with a little time to assess if you are ready to make the switch. If unsure, the below points will perhaps help you understand if your company is ready to continue pursuing remote work even after everything has settled.
Most tasks can be completed virtually
Your company is likely connected through numerous communications platforms. You may have had a few employees take time off, or have called days off as well – with everyone managing to get work done regardless. In hindsight, this may have been a litmus test of your organization’s readiness in shifting to remote work. There are software, cloud-based communication applications, and videoconferencing tools to help you stay connected. This wave of digital technologies makes remote work a possibility for practically any company. Jane Elizabeth of the Virginia-based American Press Institute mentioned that the benefits of digital technology allow remote work even for small non-profit organizations, firmly believing that “you just can’t overstate the positive benefits of this type of mobility.” The benefits are quantitative in terms of costs and resources, while qualitative in terms of employees’ mental health and work-life balance – all thanks to technology.
Remote Work Doesn’t Just Mean Work From Home
Co-working spaces are serving as ideal alternative spaces for remote workers, and have become the perfect balance between flexible work and working in an office environment. The spaces have fast internet connections, as well as conference rooms and presentation services, that allow a person to immediately set up a workstation without any hassle. The cost of the membership is much cheaper than the cost of running an office, with many establishments offering cooperate rates.
To get a sense of how the co-working industry is changing work across the U.S. you only have to look at Miami. A study found that Miami has the most co-working space in the country, with freelancers, startups, and Fortune 500 companies taking advantage of these new spaces. And the industry is growing fast. Co-working provider Industrious has multiple locations in Miami that are part of a setup across 50 cities, providing not only a space to work but also the opportunity to be part of a large network. Inline with the above, if your business’ future plans include shifting to a remote work setup, make sure you take into consideration the growing abundance of co-working spaces.
You’ve lost talent to companies with remote work
Many companies have already been ahead of the game in implementing remote work policies because today’s workers view it as a desirable benefit when considering a new job. Data from Owl Labs shows that companies with remote work policies in place have a 25% lower employee turnover rate compared to organizations that don’t. Moreover, 76% of employees would be more enthusiastic about staying with their current company if remote work was an option. This clearly illustrates that remote work is one of the most important factors that today’s employees now consider. If you’ve noticed a decline in your employee retention or can’t seem to keep your best employees around long enough, take the cue from California, Texas, and New York. According to FlexJobs, these states have the most number of remote job listings. You don’t want to lose out in the competition.
There is no question remote work is the future of our modern workforce. Your organization could quite possibly be next to hop on the bandwagon and reap the benefits.
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