Remote Rewards – 6 Reasons Why You Should Let Your Staff Telecommute

As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, so too does the ability to work from home. In fact, research conducted by Pennsylvania State University suggests a bevy of advantages to telecommuting, including increased employee satisfaction and reduced business expenses. Here are several reasons employers should consider letting their staff telecommute, at least on a part-time basis:

1. Telecommuting is Cheaper for Everyone

Running a brick and mortar office space can quickly become expensive for employers. From leasing an office space and purchasing equipment to utility expenses and maintenance fees, the cost per employee can be quite draining on a company’s finances.

Companies who opt to use a virtual office instead of a physical space stand to save thousands of dollars a year per staff member. Virtual offices allow businesses to maintain their professional image while significantly decreasing the cost of overheads.

Telecommuting is a much cheaper option than working in a traditional office from an employee standpoint, too. Secondary costs such as gas, car maintenance, lunch, and professional clothing go hand-in-hand with a traditional office job but aren’t necessary for a telecommuting position.

2. People Who Telecommute are Happier with Their Jobs

There’s a lot to be said for employees who like their jobs. People who are satisfied at work tend to stay at their jobs longer and are more motivated to work harder. Happy employees are an asset to any company.

3. Work-at-Home Staff are More Productive

Contrary to popular belief, people who work from home are actually more productive than those who go into the office every day. With less time wasted traveling to and from the office, home-based workers are able to begin work sooner. Furthermore, since telecommuters have more control over their schedules, they can make adjustments to accommodate things like doctor’s appointments and their children’s schedules without missing as much valuable work time.

4. Telecommuting Results in a Better Work-Life Balance

One employee calls in sick. Another’s car breaks down just as she’s heading to work. A major snowstorm forces most of your staff to stay home. These are all common issues that cause employers thousands of dollars in lost productivity each year.

When employees are allowed to work from home, however, they are able to strike an acceptable work-life balance by attending to these demands without coming at a cost to the company’s bottom line.

5. Allowing Staff to Telecommute is the Greener Choice

For employers looking to reduce their carbon footprint, allowing employees to work from home is a great way to go green. Not only does it reduce air pollution because there’s no commute to and from the office, but it also decreases the amount of paper waste produced since most interactions are done digitally.

6. There’s a Bigger, Better Pool of Employees to Choose From

Every employer strives to hire the best of the best, but that’s hard to do when you’re limited to choosing from the people in the general vicinity of the office. Allowing your company’s work to be done digitally, however, opens doors to a wider pool of potentially better employees.

Telecommuting makes it possible to hire anyone from anywhere in the world (if you so want), giving you access to potentially more knowledgeable and experienced personnel.

Telecommuting is a viable option for many industries. It’s a smart business strategy that produces happier employees, saves money, reduces turnover, and increases productivity. With so many benefits surrounding the work-from-home prospect, it pays to consider it for your own business.