Telework – The Wave of the Future
Many companies had to find ways to adapt to a new lifestyle when the pandemic hit. Part of this adjustment was a switch to a virtual work setting, and often times called telework. Telework became a reality for many individuals during 2020, creating many benefits that employers need to consider continuing.
Retain Quality Employees
One of the benefits of implementing telework is that it allows the company to retain good employees. Work-life balance is a crucial aspect in creating a healthy work environment, so providing employees the option to have a flexible schedule can dramatically improve employee’s well-being. Happy employees are more likely to stay with the company because they enjoy the work-life balance schedule. Furthermore, studies have shown that more than 30 minutes of a daily commute can lead to increased levels of stress and anxiety, which can ultimately lead to high cholesterol, elevated blood sugar, and an increased risk of depression (Courtney, FlexJobs). Employee’s mental health can dramatically increase with the continuance of telework, making it an invaluable option to implement.
Increased Productivity
Just like telework can help retain good employees, it also allows the current employees to become more productive. Telework allows employees the ability to work from anywhere, oftentimes with fewer interruptions. In an office setting, there are constant disruptions and distractions flowing through the office. With telework, the ability to work from anywhere with fewer distractions can lead to an increase in employee productivity. Fewer interruptions lead to more work output, which is vital to improve the income of the company. In a survey taken by FlexJobs, over 51% of respondents reported that they were more productive working from home rather than in an office setting. Moreover, an office environment can lead to employees perceiving favorites and bias. By allowing telework, perceived employee bias and favoritism is eliminated, creating an all-inclusive work setting (Courtney, FlexJobs).
Hybrid Options
With new innovations and technological advancements appearing every day, the ability to telework is crucial for almost all companies. Most of the work performed can be done virtually from anywhere, with no set office space required. New features like time tracking and instant messaging can allow employees to communicate with each other from any location. Moreover, there are multiple options to implement telework, and it doesn’t have to be an all one or the other approach. Many employers are leaning more towards a hybrid option for telework. This means that an employee might come into the office two days a week and then work remotely the other three. The employees are still getting social interaction within the office but also maintaining a healthy work-life balance working remotely. This is a win-win in many cases.
Summary
Companies implementing telework have dramatically increased over the past few years, with new technological advancements and a global pandemic. The option is ultimately up to the employer, but these benefits should be considered when making the decision. Why not implement a feature that allows your employees to take care of their mental health and increase work output?
Sources:
Courtney, Emily. “The Benefits of Working From Home: Why The Pandemic Isn’t the Only Reason to Work Remotely.” FlexJobs, https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/benefits-of-remote-work/. Accessed 27 July 2021.