The pandemic has completely changed the way people do business and one of the biggest shifts has been the work from home transition. Whereas at first this may have been put in place as a temporary solution, it is now apparent that this trend is here to stay. Telecommuting, or working from home, has replaced going into the office for many people on a permanent basis. Long gone are the days of fighting to get on public transport, or sitting in traffic. This has many advantages for those who prefer remote working. Here are five benefits of telecommuting.
Lower emissions
There has definitely been an impact of COVID-19 on the way we travel. Commuting is responsible for a large portion of transport emissions overall, and working from home is a way to reduce this. If fewer people are driving or taking public transport to work, it will have a positive effect on the environment overall. There have also been technological advances in the Passenger Transportation industry with an environmental focus such as electric cars and taxis, and driverless cars. Gradually, the way we travel could have less of an environmental impact.
Reduces costs for businesses
In the majority of cases, remote working saves businesses money. This is mainly because of the savings achieved by not working out of official premises or commercial property. Businesses aren’t limited by location and this saves money in various ways. There’s no need to pay for rent, utilities, or other expensive overheads and it’s cheaper to manage staff remotely. Increased productivity and staff retention also mean businesses save money in the long run.
Technological advances
Advances in cloud technology and video conferencing have facilitated the work from home transition. Businesses were able to quickly adapt and carry out tasks remotely without too much downtime. Technology has proven to be a very effective solution. Workers are able to maintain the same level of productivity, or better, working from home. Cloud-based software has also helped to boost communication and collaboration, with the sharing of information in real-time.
Employers are reassessing policies
One of the positive things to come out of the pandemic is that it’s given many businesses the opportunities to reassess policies. Employers are evaluating their existing policies to ensure they are supporting different employees’ situations. Focus has been placed on vulnerable groups and those who might not have access to certain equipment. Employers are reassessing their work from home policies and finding new ways to avoid unnecessary travel for all members of staff.
Employee wellbeing and satisfaction
Avoiding the stress of the daily commute is a proven way to boost employee wellbeing. It also saves time. Employees can spend less time travelling and can be more flexible with their working hours in general. This has lead to an increase in employee engagement and motivation in most cases. While working remotely may not be ideal for everyone, there are definitely visible benefits. Telecommuting is about convenience and will likely become a permanent solution for many businesses.
