Why are Remote Workers More Productive?
Remote work has been on the rise since the last decade. It is the working style where professionals can work outside of the traditional working office environment. Remote work is based on the concept that people do not have to be in an office-setting to execute work successfully and work excellently for many work profiles such as for developers. Remote work allows employees to complete their task wherever they please without having to commute to the office every day and work on a designated desk. It gives people the flexibility to plan their days so that their professional and personal life can be experienced to the full potential and can coexist. In the last few years, there has been a cultural shift in the way people deem telecommuting, and it is why so many people are capitalizing on the newfound freedom.
Companies, especially start-ups, are coming up with new ways to engage employees and encourage them to report to the office every day. From candy dispensers in the conference rooms to indoor tree houses, companies today are working hard to offer in-office perks to their employees, but they might be doing more harm than good. Many large corporations have an open office system that fosters collaboration, promotes learning and also helps nurture a strong culture in the office. Most of the time, these ideas are poorly executed leading to productivity issues. According to a Harvard Business Review study, there has been an increase of 16 percent since 2008 in the number of people who said that they could not concentrate at their desk. In addition, about 13 percent of them said that they did not have access to a quiet place to do some focused work.
The productivity of remote workers has been the subject of debate for long. But, based on a number of recent studies, it is safe to claim that remote workers are more productive than their office counterparts. Here are some of the top reasons why remote workers are outperforming office workers.
Increased Focus at Work
Employees often feel frustrated about having to spend hours commuting to and from their office. Long commute times have a negative impact on the mental well being of the employees. It often leads to increased work-related stress, and the employees get less than the recommended amount of sleep often causing unhealthy behavior that affects their productivity. When employees are given an opportunity to work from home, they get more work done on any single day since there is no loss of time and no distractions such as small talks with colleagues passing their desks. According to a survey, about 65 percent of the employees said that remote work gave a boost to their productivity.
Better Relationships with Teammates and Family
When people work remotely, there is a higher demand for communication. Since remote workers need to lean on technology to communicate frequently with their teammates, it allows them to collaborate strongly and build better relationships with them. According to a study, about 92 percent of employees said that video chats and video conferences had improved their teamwork to a great extent. Also, employees are also able to spend more time with their families. Instead of being stuck in traffic, more employees can sit down at dinner tables when they work remotely. Thus, there is a great work-life balance leading to sustainable happiness and a will to work better.
Greater Presence
Employees often make excuses to leave office early or to be absent to run an errand or to get to an event on time. They also call in sick if they even have a cold to avoid spreading it to others. Remote workers do not have to make such excuses since they are not forced to sit in the office all day. They can design their day to meet the demands of lives. Even if they have an errand to run or have a cold, they can work from home easily without losing a workday. It means that employees take less sick leave and log more hours per week compared to those working from the office.
Learning New Skills
Often, life working at the office can be hectic and often trap employees into a life of boredom. Most of them do not have time to learn a new skill or pursue a hobby that they love leading to frustration and decreased productivity at work. Many put off outings with their families because they are too tired after returning home from work. Remote work gives employees more time to work on themselves and become specialists in the certain field of choice. A person needs just 20 hours to learn a new skill, and remote workers can save that much amount of time by not having to commute 45 minutes to an hour every day.
Remote work option is one of the best options for employers to attract and retain talent. There are more millennials in the workforce than baby boomers. Millennials prefer to work remote all the time as they enjoy the freedom and flexibility that comes with such an arrangement. According to a study by Mom Corps, the fondness for remote work is quite evident among employees that they are ready for a little pay cut if they are given an opportunity to work remotely. It is the best time for employers to make working from home a new norm. According to the Society of Human Resource Management, different studies show that by the end of 2020, about 50 percent of the total employees in worldwide jobs will work remotely.
This article was prepared by one of the specialists cooperating with React Rangers. How many of you prefer remote working? Let us know what takes your productivity to the next level. Visit our website for more information about how you can boost your career with React Rangers.
