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In the pages that follow, we review physiological, psychological, and motivational factors; creativity; emotion regulation; job satisfaction; and productivity—primarily from the perspective of employees. According to Gallup surveys, more people are telecommuting at least part time than ever before.
First and foremost, the most obvious benefit of being able to work remotely is the ability to improve your work-life balance. Remote work allows employees to work in an environment where they’ll naturally be able to spend time with those who matter most to them, whether it’s a spouse, children, family members, roommates, or pets. When it comes to the daily commute, studies have shown that sitting for longer periods of time before and after an already sedentary day in the workplace increases your risk of cardiovascular and metabolic issues. And when your physical health is negatively impacted, so is your ability to work to the best of your ability, or sometimes even at all. While masses of employees were relegated to remote work over the past six months, many found it to be preferable in more ways than one. When it comes to a company’s work from home policy, everyone is different.
Being a remote employee promotes employee well-being
People who have to rush to work every morning, work at a frenetic pace all day and endure a long slog home five days a week tend to have less time for friends, family and relationships. Home-based workers have an opportunity to set their own pace, and with no commute, they typically have more time.
This can go a long way in improving work-life balance, allowing workers to feel more comfortable in their work environment, less stressed out, and happier in their personal life due to the extra time afforded to them. Despite employees working remotely, it is still possible for companies to ensure they receive support when it comes to taking care of their overall wellbeing.
Working remotely saves companies money
This means that if you do get sick, it won’t interfere with your ability to get things done. Here are some of the most interesting and, perhaps, surprising, ways flexible work can positively affect mental health. With employees potentially working from anywhere, companies need to be prepared to insure them everywhere.
- The health benefits of working remotely are something to consider for companies that are looking for ways to improve employee wellness and satisfaction.
- You can experiment with an earlier bedtime, additional hours of sleep and an earlier wake-up for your morning work routine in a flexible manner that suits you.
- Past research has connected negative mental health possibilities with traffic jam commuting.
- Whether you were able to work from home full-time or you had a hybrid work schedule due to the pandemic, you know that the workplace has officially evolved.
- With fewer people in the office, companies can condense their real estate footprint, allowing for more efficient workspace usage.
- Overall remote workers earn 23.7% more than non-remote employees when excluding job title and other compensable factors.
We have been far more productive and have attended more online professional development than we could have in person. Technological advancements allow for remote meetings, and we have found that the recording of these meetings also increases control, flexibility, and productivity. In some instances, online webinars, https://remotemode.net/ workshops, and meetings allow for multitasking such as cooking dinner and tuning in at the same time. Employees aren’t the only ones who benefit from working from home; a company can benefit just as greatly from a remote employee. “For employers telecommuting can limit absences, increase productivity, and save money.
Companies are scaling back remote roles, but should they be?
Health benefits for remote work can be impactful for all employees when location and individual employee needs are taken into consideration. Employers are choosing to flow with new work cultures, and the next few years will be interesting to watch as remote work is adopted across different industries. With remote work, you benefits of working remotely can also access jobs worldwide and work from literally anywhere. This is especially beneficial for people who need more flexibility in their schedules. Not only does working remotely save you time, but it can also save you money. With no need for gas or public transportation, you can kiss those commuting costs goodbye.
- Some organizations are grappling with the issue of providing health insurance benefits in additional regions, countries and territories.
- This means more disposable income available for other things, which is always a good thing.
- When you can’t always rely on someone else to help you, you develop the skill of looking for the answer before asking for help.
- Many employees actually improving productivity and overall performance resulting from the increased flexibility they’ve been given.
- These tools act as a virtual office, enabling a scattered workforce to collaborate on projects, share screens and communicate face-to-face.
Remote working can also promote equity, which can increase motivation in marginalized groups. Employees of color have consistently reported lower job satisfaction and less favorable perceptions of equity in the workplace, both in academia and in applied fields (Ali, 2009; Dowler, 2005; Livingston, 2020). In contemporary North American culture, those who spend more time at the office are seen as more committed to their jobs and employers (Williams & Boushey, 2010).
