Benefits of Remote Working

Benefits of Remote Working

 

Remote Work: Benefits and Best Practices

Remote working has been shown to offer big advantages when executed under the right circumstances. Here are some of the benefits, along with tips for successful remote work-days.

Examining the Research

Although they're constructed to promote productivity, office spaces tend to come with all sorts of noisy distractions. For this reason and countless others, more and more businesses are allowing their workforces to tackle projects off-site.

Studies have linked this movement to better job performance and satisfaction, thanks to a number of key benefits. In its report Work without Walls, Microsoft polled over 4,000 workers in the retail/hospitality, financial, manufacturing and professional services industries. Among other things, surveyors asked the participants to list the top benefits of working remotely. The top responses included:

  • 60 percent - Better work/home balance

  • 55 percent - Saving on fuel expenses

  • 47 percent - Avoiding traffic headaches

  • 45 percent - Increased productivity

  • 44 percent - Fewer distractions

  • 44 percent - Avoiding long commutes

  • 43 percent - Quieter atmospheres

  • 38 percent - Less stressful work environment

  • 29 percent - More quality time with family

  • 23 percent - More environmentally friendly.

Unfortunately, according to the Microsoft report, many business leaders resist the idea of remote workforces, because they fear their employees won't work as hard without oversight. In reality, however, evidence suggests that workers are actually more productive when they work off-site:

Still, while the data appears to paint remote work as a godsend, its effectiveness isn't a given. According to the Association for Psychological Science, success depends greatly on how remote work is executed, based on the needs of individuals and organizations.

Making Remote Work, Work

When it comes to working off-site, experiences can vary depending on the circumstances. Some people are more suited to remote work than others, and some jobs just require more face-to-face interaction. At the same time, there are other factors that can either aid or inhibit remote work, including:

  • Challenge: Poor communication with colleagues

  • Solution: Good collaboration tools such as Slack, Google Hangouts, Zoom and Skype.

  • Challenge: Distractions at home or in public settings due to a lack of dedicated work space

  • Solution: A well-equipped virtual office

  • Challenge: Low mood and depression related to excessive isolation

  • Solution: Co-working spaces that allow remote workers to network with other professionals

  • Challenge: Slow or non-existent diffusion of in-house company knowledge

  • Solution: Cloud-based scheduling, memos and collaborative software

  • Challenge: Turning "off" work when operating from a home office

  • Solution: Scheduling more time to work outside the home in virtual office spaces

Again, not everyone is suited for remote work, and not every circumstance guarantees a successful off-site experience. By making some smart choices about how they work, however, professionals are able to increase their chances for success, whatever the setting.

Intelligent Office provides private virtual offices, along with fully-equipped coworking spaces that allow professionals to work and network according to their unique schedules. Contact our office to learn how our business solutions can help you reach a higher level of success.