Why Working from Home is a Win-Win for Companies and Employees

ThinkstockPhotos-79084049Is your management team wrestling with the decision to let people work from home (WFH)? It can be a big change, but a positive and necessary one. Increasingly, people are viewing “work” as something you do, rather than somewhere you go. When organizations look to the future, the most innovative and successful leaders realize the potential that virtual workforces have to change the face of business. As organizations expand across the nation and the globe, remote labor forces are becoming vital to business success. Currently, 82 percent of Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” already have virtual work policies. That number is expected to rise as time and technology advance.

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If your company isn’t on board yet, or your WFH policy could be more inclusive, here are eight persuasive reasons why virtual work makes sense for both employer and employee:

  • Cost savings for employers, by reducing the need for physical working space and overhead costs to maintain onsite facilities.
  • Higher customer satisfaction due to better coverage across different time zones.
  • Better able to attract top talent by eliminating geographic restrictions on the talent pool.
  • Lower absenteeism and higher engagement. Gallup’s 2013 State of the American Workplace study proved that not only do virtual employees work an average of four hours longer per work week than people who go to the company site, but also that these workers are more engaged (32% versus 28% engaged).
  • Eliminating the stress of commuting to work. (Stress is one of the primary reasons for resignation.)
  • Cost savings for the employees, since costs for gas and train/bus fare are reduced.
  • Higher innovation and creativity. According to a May, 2014 Wall Street Journal article, only 10% of workers believe they do their best thinking at work, versus 39% who believe they do their best thinking at home.
  • Better work-life balance and workplace flexibility, both of which are highly prized by Millennials, the fastest growing generation in the workforce.

Each year, the population of virtual workers grows, and observing this pattern contributes to the belief that virtual workforces are here to stay. In fact, Harvard Business Review recently reported that as of this year, 40% of the world’s workforce is remote. To remain competitive in this increasingly distanced world, the decision for your organization to move toward more virtual work should be an easy one.

MORE: Remote work made easy

Kevin Sheridan

Kevin Sheridan
Kevin Sheridan is a New York Times best-selling author, a frequent keynote speaker and the chief engagement officer of Kevin Sheridan LLC. He can be reached at kevin (at) kevinsheridanllc (dot) com.

Kevin Sheridan

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