Yahoo’s CEO’s decision earlier this year not to allow employees to work from home is very short-sighted. In fact, the clear evidence about the benefits of telecommuting is very compelling.
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. Increasingly, leadership and organizations are viewing “work” as something you do, rather than somewhere you go. As organizations expand across the nation and the globe, remote labor forces are becoming vital to business success. Truth be told, it is estimated that by 2015, 40% of the global workforce will be virtual workers. 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.
In addition, fully 81 percent of people that have worked remotely report that they were more productive at home than working in a “traditional” workplace environment.
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Each year, the population of virtual workers grows, and observing this pattern contributes to the belief that virtual workforces are here to stay. The trend toward virtual work is, in fact, gaining such a hold in the workplace that colleges and universities are beginning to introduce programs dedicated solely to best practices for virtual work. To remain up to par in this increasingly distanced world, managers must consider the increasing demand and necessity for a virtual workforce.
Remote workforces help maintain an organization’s competitive advantage. Distance employees contribute to higher profits, larger market shares, and an ambitious edge. Prior to incorporating remote workers into your organization, it is imperative managers understand every facet of the virtual workforce in order to establish the most successful virtual teams.
From Chapter 1 of The Virtual Manager, which lays out the enormous and quantifiable benefits of virtual work.
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