The Future of Work is Remote: 5 Reasons to Ditch the Traditional Office and Embrace Telecommuting

The global pandemic forced a dramatic shift in how we work, with millions transitioning from traditional office environments to the remote realm. While this sudden change was initially met with uncertainty, a surprising truth has emerged: telecommuting works. In fact, it’s thriving. 

From increased employee satisfaction to significant cost savings, telecommuting is proving to be a win-win for both businesses and workers. This brings us to the question: if a company can operate well on a work-from-home basis, is it possible for telecommuting to be the new standard for work moving forward? 

The answer is a resounding yes. So if you’re low-key enjoying this work-from-home setup (and you’re hesitant to go back to the office), here are 5 telecommuting benefits that might convince your employer to make it permanent.

1. Remote work setups can save a lot of money

Telecommuting is a more economical option for employees and employers alike. 

Think about this: when employers adopt telecommuting, they can cut down on costs associated with work equipment, office supplies, water and energy bills, and other facilities. They won’t have to worry about upgrading to a bigger office space to house more employees or buying more computers for new hires. 

They won’t even have to worry about securing office space at all. Even before the pandemic forced the working class to telecommute, employers already had the option of switching to more flexible work arrangements: 

• Serviced offices offered a cost-effective way to maintain a professional presence with shared amenities like meeting rooms. 
• Virtual offices provided a business address and administrative support without the overhead of a full lease. 
• Offsite meeting rooms or conference venues allowed teams to collaborate in person when needed, without the commitment of a traditional office space.

2. Telecommuting is linked to increased productivity and performance

When done right, telecommuting allows both employers and employees to focus on what truly matters — productivity and performance. 

Numerous studies have shown that a majority of employees are more productive working remotely than in a traditional office. Employees get to work at their own comfortable pace which often leads to lower stress levels due to increased flexibility, quieter noise levels, and fewer office politics and micromanaging. Add in the lack of commute, employees are more likely to have more time and energy to get the work done. 

3. Employees are less likely to get sick…and take work leaves

Uncomfortable working spaces, office noise, tight and crazy schedules, fast-food lunches, lack of exercise, and exposure to air pollution and viruses — dealing with these unfavorable conditions 5 times a day is enough to make anyone sick. And when they get sick, they’re forced to take work leaves. In many cases, a toxic workplace can cause a good employee to quit. 

When employees work from home, they’re less likely to encounter these things. Even if they’re mildly sick, they’ll still be able to get some work done unlike when they’re forced to commute. They also have the freedom to craft their own perfect working environment, which supports their wellbeing. 

4. Hire top talents no matter where they are

Have you ever interviewed a top-notch applicant but had to decline your offer because they had to travel for 3 hours just to get to work? It can be challenging to create your best team when the recruiting is limited to a certain specific locale. 

What’s great about work-from-home policies is that companies can hire top talent without considering geographic limits and cultural backgrounds. They can even hire professionals overseas and create a powerhouse team virtually. In the same way, great-minded folks won’t have to live near metropolitan cities to land a job in a company they’ll thrive in. 

5. Make your employees happier and healthier

Due to the pandemic, people have become more concerned about their physical and mental wellbeing, and whether or not their lifestyles are healthy. Everyone seems to be talking about the positive impact of work-life balance these days. There’s no better way to make your employees healthier and happier than to let them work from home. 

Remote, flexible workers tend to be more satisfied than traditional employees. Working from home provides more time to sneak in their hobbies and interests and improve interpersonal relationships. They’ll also have more chances of sticking to healthy habits, like regular exercise, healthy meals, and enough rest. 

Going back to what we’ve mentioned about productivity and performance, employees are more likely to deliver high-quality outputs if they’re in better shape. 

Author Bio: Carmina Natividad is a passionate writer for Meet in DCU, a unique conference venue in Dublin that is perfect for corporate meetings, conferences, seminars, and events. Writing articles about business and events is one thing she finds enjoyable, next to playing the piano.