While we all know that freelancers are on the rise, you might be surprised to find that the preference to hire remote employees is also on the rise. In fact, based on Upwork’s Future Workforce Report, hiring managers expect 38% of their full-time staff to be working remotely in the next decade.
Now, more than ever, businesses understand that great work can be done from anywhere—and they’re willing to live out this ideal. Through consistent communication and a strong commitment to measuring progress (and tracking productivity), it is entirely possible to create an empowering office dynamic that isn’t confined to the four walls of the office.
If you’re still on the fence as to whether your company should leverage this trend, take note of these four major reasons why remote working is the new business standard:
1. There’s a growing group of employees who are successfully working remotely already
This is one of the most compelling arguments businesses with remote teams make to companies that have yet to utilize remote employees.
Before the world took notice of this growing group of individuals who opted to work away from the office, they already were—and successfully, too. The authors of “A Brief History of the Workhome”note that “for as long as humans have had homes, there has been integration between where people conducted their businesses and where their families lived and gathered.” More importantly, most offices don’t realize that their own employees have, in some capacity, been working remotely. Before this trend, employees brought laptops home, answered emails and messages while on business trips, and took calls while away from their desks using their mobile phones.
If this underscores anything, it’s that organizations are actually ready to incorporate remote-working programs into their workplaces.
2. Remote working has been proven to motivate employees
Would it surprise you to find that offering employees the option to work remotely is a better motivator in terms of recruitment and retention? It’s true. A recent study highlights the importance of remote work opportunities with a staggering statistic: “nearly 3 out of 4 workers would leave their current job for one offering remote work.”
To that end, many organizations are now using remote work as a benefit or incentive for employees. Monetary benefits, while still desirable, aren’t the only options these days, especially if you want to underscore key values such as work-life balance. Remote-working options, however, showcase a company’s flexibility and focus on employee well-being.
3. Companies are evolving their foundations for remote work to keep up with new business trends
By 2020, millennials will make up half of the global workforce.
A younger workforce will have different priorities. For example, while compensation is still important, millennials place equal importance on work-life balance. This is why a lot of millennials ask about telecommuting or remote work.
To address this growing focus on workplace flexibility, companies are becoming more willing to offer programs like remote working, flexible schedules, and part-time work arrangements.
4. Remote working gives employees the chance to see their roles from a different perspective
As a remote employee, you have more opportunities to work with global organizations and teams. You could have multiple clients across numerous countries and cultures, which allows you to learn to navigate working with Asian, European, or American business cultures, for example.
Why is this important? Because it gives you unique insight into how you can evolve and improve your job to maintain relevance in your industry.
Do you think your company could benefit from remote working? Make sure you have the tools to ensure that you support and empower your team members’ productivity. Get in touch with us today and learn how GoToConnect can improve your business!