It Looks Like Remote Work is Here to Stay - Can You Use it to Your Advantage?

It wasn’t so long ago that remote work was out of the question for many industries. In 2020, things are taking a turn. Today, working from home or anywhere outside of the office is becoming the ‘norm.’ By the looks of it, this is the future of the modern workforce. 

According to a New York Times report, working from another location other than the office or a client site is on the steady incline. 

So, what exactly are the benefits of remote work - and could you make it work to your advantage?

Positive shifts in attitudes about work:

According to Bentley University, by 2025, millennials will make up around 75% of the global workforce. If there’s one thing that’s for sure when it comes to millennial work ethics, they’re very different from their boomer parents. Millennials are going to be shaping the work environment for years to come. This new generation of talent brings radically different expectations about the nature of work and how work should be done, when, and where it’s done. Not to say millennials don’t have a solid work ethic, they just have a different approach to working than previous generations. 

What’s going to happen when the boomers begin to retire, and millennials take over in management roles? According to a PWC study, a healthy work-life balance is their number one priority. Millennials want flexibility, and they’re willing to go to great lengths to get it. Remote work is essentially a dream come true for most millennials. They can still earn their paycheck and get their job done, all from the comfort of their own home. Today’s generation is so tech-focused that for many young workers being in an office for eight hours a day is actually counterproductive.

Remote work increases employee productivity lowers stress levels & boosts morale:

There is evidence that supports that employees working from home are more productive and work longer hours. One of the biggest woes anyone going to and from a job can attest to - it’s the daunting traffic jams and commutes back and forth five days a week. Eliminating a daunting commune, getting to sleep for an extra hour, and working alone are significant perks for many people. If an employee has a hard time focusing, working remotely should pose fewer distractions. Think about it, no talking, buzzing, and ringing noises that always seem to happen in any work environment. 

Remote work also lowers stress. Whether employees stress is caused by being in the presence of their boss, other co-workers, or anything else for that matter, 82% of remote workers reported lower stress levels. Remote workers are also reporting higher morale, and are taking fewer days off when working from home. 

By the looks of it, working from home has its benefits for both the employers and the employees. Business owners can have big bucks on office spaces and electricity, while employees can work in their pajamas. Is this a win-win?