Increased Productivity When Working Remotely
Increasingly, businesses are hiring remote workers instead of conventional on-site staff. Remote work is gaining popularity for numerous different reasons. For many companies, employing remote workers can cut costs, especially overheads. Employees often prefer remote work as it offers more flexibility. Environmentalists are also positive about remote work as less commuters on the road, resulting in less pollution in the air. However critics have questioned whether remote workers are really as productive as their on-site counterparts. We have done the research, and the answer is yes. Here are the reasons why, and also some tips for remote workers.
1. Fewer Distractions
A 9-month Stanford study of 16,000 call center employees found that working remotely increased productivity by 13 percent. One of the main reasons for this was that employees who work remotely had fewer distractions. On-site staff are often disturbed, whether it is by staff member coming to their office area, being pulled into impromptu meetings, the constant hum of background noise, and many other distractions. Remote workers tend to have a quieter, more private space to work in. To ensure that you have the optimal remote work environment, create a tranquil, uncluttered space in your house or condo to work in so that you aren’t disturbed.
2. Improved Collaboration
Although at first it may sound counter-intuitive, a study released by video and voice collaboration technology company Polycom Inc., confirmed that employees are more likely to work efficiently and collaborate better with other staff when engaged in remote work together. Polycom stated that the new technology tools enable communication and collaboration are actually motivating remote workers to pick up the phone, seek face time and create lasting bonds. To ensure that you stay connected with your team, make the most of all the online tools such as chats, hangouts, document sharing sites where staff can comment on each other’s work, and other online communities to share remote working experiences, suggestions and facts with one another.
3. Remote Workers are Happier
Leadership IQ surveyed 3,478 employees using an online survey. After crunching the numbers, they concluded that remote workers are nearly twice more likely to love their jobs than their counterparts, on-site employees. When employees are happier, they are more likely to perform well in their jobs, inspire other employees to do so, and if they have a front-office position, they will probably be more friendly and helpful with company clients. This also means employees are less likely to leave their jobs and seek a new one. This in turn makes the company more efficient and profitable as it is able to retain its talent. It won’t be pushed to regularly seek and train new staff. To make sure that you stay happy in your remote work, remember to take breaks and refresh yourself if an assignment is becoming overwhelming, so that you can come back to it with renewed energy and vision.
4. Remote Workers Are More Engaged
Employees who do remote work are more focused on what they do. According to a to a report from Inc. Magazine, remote workers may be up to 20% more engaged than on-site staff when they are able to undertake their creative projects remotely. The reason for this seems to be that autonomy instills responsibility in remote workers plus a lack of distractions means that they are able both to plan their projects and execute them.
