10 Ways Remote Working Acts as a Catalyst for your Growth-Oriented Start-up

Certainly! Remote work has been gaining popularity over the past decade, with a 400% increase in the number of remote workers.

Upwork, a leading freelancing platform, has predicted that within the next eight years, 73% of all teams will have remote workers.

This trend is not limited to any particular industry, as remote work is gaining popularity across the board.

In this context, the relevance of IT hubs, such as Silicon Valley, is being questioned. While the innovation and creativity of such hubs are still valuable, the benefits of remote work are hard to ignore. As a hiring manager or HR professional, it’s important to understand why remote work is becoming so popular, which is why we’ve put together a list of 15 compelling advantages. But before we delve into that, it’s essential to take note of the research that supports this trend.

The working-from-home population has grown from 27.6 million in 2021 to 80 million in 2022

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 How is Remote Working Leading the Way of Recruitment?

• On-the Go Onboarding:

The process of onboarding for new employees is crucial in creating a positive first impression and setting them up for success. With remote work gaining popularity, virtual onboarding has become easier and quicker than traditional onboarding methods that involve a lot of paperwork.

Remote onboarding is particularly beneficial for companies looking to quickly prepare new hires for their roles and responsibilities. Remote workers especially benefit from this process as they can participate from any location, reducing the need for travel and saving time and resources.

• Saves Costs Tremendously:

In a remote onboarding process, there are several cost-saving advantages that come with the absence of physical paperwork. Without the need to print out contracts, agreements, and other paperwork, companies can save money on printing and shipping costs. In addition, remote onboarding also eliminates the need for physical office space, which can be a significant expense for companies.

Overall, remote onboarding can be a cost-effective solution for companies, especially those looking to reduce expenses and operate more efficiently.

• Enhanced Productivity:

Employers and employees have recognized the productivity benefits of remote work.

According to a Hubstaff report, 65% of workers believe they are highly productive when working from home, and over 85% of businesses agree.

Asynchronous communication in remote work leads to fewer distractions, and as employees settle into a routine, they develop better communication techniques. Although asynchronous communication can initially lead to lower reply frequency and poor email turnaround, these issues tend to resolve over time.

• Improved Employee Loyalty:

The benefits of remote work are evident in the increased productivity of employees, with remote workers putting in an extra 1.4 days of work per month, according to studies.

Sun Microsystems reported even more significant results, with remote workers clocking in 5 extra hours per week compared to office-based staff.

Remote work can also boost employee loyalty and may be a result of reduced commuting time and increased work-life balance. These advantages make a strong case for companies to consider transitioning to remote work.

• Reduced Stress Levels:

Flexibility is one of the main advantages of remote work, and it can lead to reduced work-related stress levels. Traditional work environments come with a long list of stress factors like commute, workplace politics, boredom, and frustration. Remote work allows employees to better manage their time and handle unexpected events without needing to ask for permission. This flexibility results in better mental health, with 84% of employees agreeing that it aids in managing stress levels.

• Much More Gratitude:

Building employee loyalty is an important aspect of managing a successful company. Trust is a key factor in increasing collaborative and individual productivity among your team.

As remote work reduces employee stress, they are more likely to be grateful for the flexibility and increased family time that it provides. Encouraging gratefulness can result in employees being more willing to invest extra time and effort into their work, such as responding to emails, providing support, and working longer hours. This can be a significant advantage for your business.

• Improved Physical Health:

Remote work is not just about sitting in front of a computer screen for hours on end. While it is true that remote workers tend to be more productive, it is also important to note that they are not just binge-watching their favorite TV shows during work hours.

In fact, remote work can actually lead to improved health and wellness for employees. One of the benefits of remote work is that it provides employees with more time to exercise, thanks to the elimination of the daily commute.

According to a survey conducted by Coso Cloud, around 35% of employees report that they are able to exercise more as a result of remote work. This is a significant advantage for employers, as it helps to prevent work burnout and digital exhaustion, both of which have become increasingly prevalent in the wake of the pandemic.

With the added flexibility that remote work provides, employees are able to create personalized exercise routines and diet plans that promote a healthier lifestyle. This, in turn, can lead to increased employee satisfaction and loyalty, as well as improved productivity and overall performance.

• High Morale & Improved Satisfaction:

Remote work is proving to be a boon for employees, as it offers many advantages both personally and professionally. One of the biggest perks of remote work is the amount of money and time saved, which can be quite significant. For instance, commuting to work can be both time-consuming and expensive, especially for fresh graduates with debt to pay off.

According to the Census Bureau Data 2018, US workers lose around 117.7 minutes a week commuting. This translates to a whopping 96 hours in a year. However, remote work eliminates this issue, resulting in substantial monetary savings and time gains.

These benefits are especially attractive to millennials and Gen-Z workers, who prioritize having a say in how they work and value work-life balance. In fact, a survey found that 50% of employees prefer companies that offer remote work over those that don’t.

Moreover, the extra time and money saved can be invested in hobbies or side-hustles, leading to higher levels of job satisfaction and morale. Overall, remote work offers a multitude of advantages that are beneficial for both employers and employees.

• Lesser Distractions:

Distractions at the workplace can hamper productivity and reduce focus. Although socializing with colleagues is an essential part of office culture, it often results in time wastage. Remote workers have the benefit of avoiding such distractions and utilizing their time more efficiently.

Furthermore, working from home allows employees to create a workspace that caters to their specific needs. This personalized environment can increase productivity and focus, leading to higher quality work output.

As someone who works with information, I personally require a quiet space to concentrate. Remote work enables me to choose an optimal workspace that allows me to perform my best. For example, I am fortunate enough to work with a beautiful garden view, which enhances my productivity. What type of workspace works best for you?

• Fewer Leaves:

Did you know that a majority of employees who take sick leave are actually not ill? This leaves only a small percentage of truthful absences. However, there could be several valid reasons for their absence.

There are many reasons why employees may take leave from work, such as illness, appointments, emergencies, family events, and bad weather.

Employers can benefit greatly from remote work, as it reduces absenteeism and leaves. Remote workers are not affected by external factors like bad weather, and can work from the comfort of their own home, making it less likely for them to miss work.

Studies have shown that absenteeism can decrease by up to 63% when employees work remotely.

Key Takeaways

As we witness ongoing advancements and breakthroughs in technology, the trend of remote work continues to gain momentum and shows no signs of slowing down. It is becoming increasingly clear that traditional office settings may soon become obsolete, as more companies realize the unnecessary expenses that come with maintaining such spaces, and more employees crave the freedom that remote work can offer. It seems that we are on the cusp of a new era, where the remote work revolution is set to take center stage.