In the pages that follow, we review physiological, psychological, and motivational factors; creativity; emotion regulation; job satisfaction; and productivity—primarily from the perspective of employees. Remote teams enable businesses to rent smaller office spaces — or even move to a remote, cloud-based operation completely. This saves organizations money on rent, utilities and other office supplies.
That’s not to say that there are no distractions that come with remote work, of course, but for many people, the in-office ones are more disruptive to their productivity. Whether you’re a freelancer, remote worker, or small business owner, discover tips for choosing the best-value monitor for your home office. There is growing evidence that customers want companies to be greener and want products to be more sustainable. Absenteeism within the workplace can be a significant problem for businesses and other employers.
The increased efficiency of employees in remote working is due to the lack of distractions present in the office 32. Besides its positive aspects 30,35, existing research indicated a number of challenges generated by remote work, such as work–home interference, ineffective communication, procrastination, and loneliness. Our findings offer managers a new lens to view the advantages/disadvantages of working from home.
Remote employees feel more in control of their workday – and how they spend their extra time after work. Should remote employee work when they’re sick, there’s no risk of them passing on their germs to their colleagues and impacting someone else’s health or productivity. The extra time employees save by not commuting also gives them more time to rest, exercise, and cook healthy meals, further improving their well-being.
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Generally, employees’ lack of social interactions is perceived as a disadvantage 34. Nevertheless, this study proposes an alternative benefits of working remotely view of telecommuting that can boost performance as a result of improving technical support and minimalizing unnecessary distractions. We cannot lead to workplace loneliness which can result in lower job performance 39 as a result of informal interactions and a team cohesion decrease 7.
- This new normal of working offers the flexibility, autonomy, and work-life balance that talent seeks in today’s world of work— in fact, 98% of workers express the desire to work remotely, at least part of the time.
- That’s left many business owners scratching their heads and wondering what to do next.
- Before the pandemic, remote work wasn’t an option for her; now her company is fully WFH and only maintains office space for monthly meetings.
- So, a welcome side-effect of this work trend is that it boosts business continuity and resilience.
- When they see what slows them down (e.g., back-to-back-to-back meetings), they adjust.
The survey mainly addressed managers who had worked remotely/hybrid since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two of the three companies surveyed previously could use remote working, but no more than two days per month. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, all companies included in the survey had started remote working with the possibility of hybrid working. In the interests of employees, it was recommended that all individuals who were able to perform their duties (i.e., had the appropriate equipment) and agreed to work remotely took advantage of this opportunity. Finally, remote work can improve mental health by limiting our time with toxic coworkers. This can decrease incidents of workplace bullying and perceptions of a hostile work environment (Høgh et al., 2021), especially for people with marginalized identities.
Remote Work Loneliness: How to Protect Your Mental Health When Working Remotely
- If employers are worried about productivity, they could be worrying needlessly.
- Technological advancements allow for remote meetings, and we have found that the recording of these meetings also increases control, flexibility, and productivity.
- When remote workers don’t feel micromanaged and believe their employer trusts them, they are more likely to develop positive feelings toward organization leadership.
- But new hires to an organization might feel overwhelmed if they are going from a traditional office to one primary based at home.
- Your marketing agency is most definitely incorporating the costs of all those fun features in their rates.
- The survey mainly addressed managers who had worked remotely/hybrid since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Further reducing absenteeism is the limited transmission of illnesses in workplaces and public transportation. While there are numerous benefits for employees, working remotely helps accounting firms and small to moderate-sized business owners as well. Many companies have been flummoxed by the remote work trend, lamenting the days when employees came in and punched a clock before sitting at an office desk. Spurred on by the current staffing shortage, they’ve tried to lure employees back into the office with corporate shindigs and raises. Employers pushed into the remote experience by the pandemic have embraced it because of benefits beyond social distancing in the time of COVID-19.
How To Manage Remote Employees in 2024
In this article, we’ll explore the top benefits of remote work for employers and highlight why it has become a critical component for future-proofing businesses. This increased trust that comes from a company embracing remote work results in higher psychological safety, further improving employee engagement and job satisfaction. Since remote employees are more productive, some roles may work on a part-time basis when they’re remote, resulting in even lower costs while opening you up to more diverse candidates. A part-time remote role could attract working parents, for example, who need a flexible schedule that works around childcare commitments.
Middle managers are tasked with communicating and implementing the plan received from top management 19. They indicate organizational roles, and they work mainly with the low management. At the lowest level of the managerial hierarchy, lower-level managers usually have the most direct and frequent contact with front-line employees. As a result, low managers can significantly impact work effectiveness 21 since they operate and plan in the short term. They usually do not have the power to implement their own initiatives that can change the strategic goals 19,22. Nevertheless, to ensure the stable functioning of the organization in unstable circumstances (e.g., at the time of the pandemic), they play a crucial role as first-line leaders.
Employer-focused advantages of remote work
Set up your distributed team with communication platforms like Slack, Asana, and Zoom, allowing teams and multiple departments to communicate in real-time via videoconference and track projects. Take the time to select the right technology tools for your company’s needs. The developer works from home and uses company-provided equipment, including a laptop, computer monitors, and a work phone. The developer regularly communicates with their manager and team members through Slack and Zoom and can access the company server, files, and other necessary documents to perform their job.
With no need to rent or maintain office space, businesses can save a considerable amount of money by allowing employees to work from home. Starting a new job is stressful for most people, even under the best of circumstances. But new hires to an organization might feel overwhelmed if they are going from a traditional office to one primary based at home. Not only do they have to learn how to perform in their new role, but they must also learn to navigate new technology. As a result, managers may spend more time coaching a new remote employee. Despite the contributions we make, this study is not without limitations.
Total Product Marketing is no stranger to the benefits of working remotely. We stayed remote during the pandemic (obviously), and we have no plans to stop being a remote team — despite the fact that many agencies are calling their staff back to the office. Foster effective communication, consistency, and productivity by helping remote work employees establish their daily routines through regular team meetings, one-on-ones, daily activities, and deadlines. These regular routines help maintain team relationships and promote accountability, keeping employees on track, engaged, and motivated to succeed when working from home.