The Benefits of Working Remotely

• July 18, 2018
• Author: Keith Young

Modern technology has transformed our work environments immeasurably. How we do our work, in most cases, is very different from how we did the same work 20 years ago. Even 10 years ago, there were still limitations we no longer face today.

Where We Work

How we work has changed, but so has where we work. The innovations of the last decade or so have enabled businesses to give employees flexibility and freedom that were impossible until recently.

Advancements in travel and technology have allowed many businesses to employ people who spend more time away from the office than they do in the office. Salespeople, business owners, technicians, and many others work where they are needed most, rather than in the same local building every day. Even local employees are spending their work days in their home office or even in coffee shops.

Benefits of Allowing Employees to Work Remotely

Continual studies show that there are many benefits of a remote workforce. For example,  this article explains the science of noise levels and why open offices are generally not the most conducive to creativity and productivity.

5 benefits of a remote workforce are:

• Increase Productivity: Distractions in the workplace greatly hinder productivity. Working in an environment without interruptions can help your staff stay focused and get work done.
• Less Stress & Save Time: The daily commute can be stressful. Working closer to home and with flexible hours allows employees to manage their time more effectively. It also provides better work-life balance.
• Diversified Workforce: The ability to work remotely opens the door to more potential employees – single and/or work-from-home parents, older workers wanting more freedom, employees who live farther away, people unable to manage the commute, etc.
• Decrease Costs: Minimizing costs is always a good thing. A remote workforce reduces your operating costs by reducing your office supplies, furniture, equipment, coffee, janitorial services, and energy usage.
• Reduce Employee Turnover: The flexibility of working remotely reduces job attrition rates by over 50% (Source). Remote workers are more willing to work overtime and are generally more satisfied with their work-life situation.

How Is Remote Work Possible?

A large part of almost any job involves communication. Without effective communication, or the ability to communicate in a timely and effective manner, it is difficult for any business to be truly successful.  

The resources available to us today allow us to communicate almost anywhere at any time with anyone. With mobile phones, wireless internet access, video conferencing, laptop computers, cloud faxing, hosted phone systems, cloud computing, and countless applications and technological advances, your office is wherever you are.

For more information about how to set up your workforce to work remotely, contact a UnitedCloud specialist today.