Working from home has many benefits
More and more professionals are looking for a compromise between work and private life. As a result, more and more companies are adapting to reflect the priorities and new realities of the world of work.
Homework is becoming increasingly viable and is serving a significant number of employers. Employees and self-employed who benefit from this trend remain in the workforce while enjoying many benefits. Here are the main advantages of this way of working:
1. You choose the workstation that suits you best
You will probably work from home if you work remotely. But that does not mean that you have to occupy a corner of your living room by installing a bulky desk, a screen and a chair. You can install your workstation anywhere in your home. For example, a homeworker may use her kitchen counter as an office and thus stay up or turn a portion of her bedroom closet into a “hidden” office that she can close at the end of the day.
2. You save money
You will of course see a difference in your bank account when you do not have to pay for travel expenses. But you will also find savings in other areas. You will not need to force yourself to wear a suit and waxed shoes if it’s not your style – no more separate cabinets for work and for the rest of your life! You can also save on food costs since you can easily prepare your own lunch and coffee if you work at home.
3. You set your working hours
Much of the work that can be done remotely these days can also be done on a flexible schedule. For example, if you are a web developer or content creator, you can probably do your coding or writing when it suits you, provided you meet your deadlines. So, night owls, rejoice! You can always do your eight hours without starting at 8 am (in case you are independent, if you are an employee, refer to your employment contract).
If you need to work at specific times (this is the case of telemarketing where it is necessary to adapt to the schedules of the contractors), you are sure to have more time of break that you can use as you see fit! Even if you only have 10 minutes, you can do something that would not be possible in a traditional office: play a few notes on your guitar or take a nap. You’re sure to come back cooler than you would after 10 minutes at your office by surfing on Facebook.
4. You become more independent
Because you do not have colleagues a few meters away or a technical team down one floor, you will find what you need for yourself. Of course, you can always ask questions and get help if needed. But, most of the time, you can do a search on Google, download a free guide or consult your company’s FAQ to find the answer yourself as quickly.
You will also end up acquiring certain skills just because you need them to work remotely and realize your services. For example, you will probably notice that you are writing clearer and more concise e-mails and that you are more sensitive to the different schedules of your team once you have worked remotely for a certain period of time.
5. You can stay in touch more easily
Most people are afraid of being alone or left behind when working remotely. But the opposite is generally true because today there is a wide range of communication tools for remote workers. Some even offer features like emojis or effects in video chats. With them, you can celebrate a colleague’s birthday by putting a top hat and a virtual monocle in your Google Hangout instead of suffering through a “Happy Birthday” round and a supermarket cake!
6. You are more concentrated
With a little bit of willpower and a good routine, you’ll quickly learn to avoid being distracted by TV or your next laundry and you should even do more when working remotely. This is because you can control your professional life and you do not have to worry about co-workers who stop to “ask a quick question”, to socialize compulsorily when you have coffee or to offend someone one by closing the door of your office. When you are at a distance and need to focus, you can simply change your status in the group chat to “do not disturb”.
7. You limit your impact on the environment
Employees and sole proprietors who work from home often communicate with their colleagues, superiors or more generally with their network by email, telephone and videoconference. Virtual meetings and the facilitation of electronic communications help protect the environment by reducing CO2 emissions. It can also help to position the company as an environmentally friendly company (or green business).
Employers can also find advantages in letting their employees and contractors work from home via the internet:
1. You reduce your overheads
Allowing employees to work from home helps you reduce your overhead. You generally do not need to provide office equipment or furniture for a teleworking employee and in some cases you can ask employees to use their own phone line and home computer to complete their work and stay in touch. You’ll also save on utility bills, office supplies and small pleasures like coffee and snacks in break rooms.
2. You limit the turnover
Allowing employees to work flexible hours can increase job satisfaction and reduce staff turnover. This helps you to maintain a long-term staff that acquires more and more knowledge about your business. Greater employee loyalty and reduced attrition also mean less time and money spent advertising available positions, pre-screening, interviewing, hiring and training new employees.
3. You can engage anyone in the world.
Say you need to hire a new employee. If all your employees work in a traditional office, you need to find someone who can go to the office every day. If you hire someone to do homework, you can literally hire anyone anywhere in the world. Although the idea of ??hiring someone from Paris may seem exciting, there is a much more practical goal. Being able to hire any potential job seeker, no matter where you are, allows you to find the best candidate for the position without any boundaries.
4. Your employees can handle the mishaps.
The child of an employee wakes up with a fever. Another must take his elderly mother to the doctor in the middle of the day. The car of a third employee breaks down just before leaving for work. A snowstorm paralyzes the city. All of these problems usually cause employees to take a day off, resulting in lost productivity for the company. However, those who work at home can still find a balance between work and personal life while continuing to do their work. Why ? Because they are able to meet the demands of their day without it costing their employer.
5. Teams with flexible hours work almost 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Having all your employees in the same office at the same time means that most of the work is done between 9am and 6pm. When staff members are scattered around the world, everyone will start and stop their work day at different times. Essentially, some colleagues will take over when others sleep deep during the night. For an employer, this translates into 24-hour productivity, which can be great for businesses that focus on customer service, for example.
6. You improve the productivity of your company
Studies show that freelancers working at home are more productive than those working in a classic office environment. Home-based employees enjoy greater independence, fewer interruptions and can focus on their work.
Employers who do not want to allow staff to work from home often fear that subcontractors are abusing this provision. They may be concerned that an employee (or a freelancer) may not work all day or may not focus entirely on the tasks at hand. One way to combat this risk is to set productivity goals and perform regular audits.