Whether it’s due to pandemic prevention or modern convenience, the idea of remote work has become an important topic for businesses around the world.
Forget about long commutes, business attire, and confining cubicles. The 21st century has seen a transformation in the concept of the workplace – and the last few weeks have catapulted businesses around the globe into this new domain. But will this change stick?
According to Kate Lister, president of Global Workplace Analytics, “What these temporary uses tend to do is show companies that, A) it can be done, and B) having people already accustomed to working remotely makes the transition much easier.”
If this modern concept of virtual teams and remote work becomes a permanent feature for some businesses, you may be wondering, “what are some of the benefits that working remotely offers to employees and their employers?”
Well, there are quite a few:
- Cost Savings – each individual employee can save an employer an average of $10,000/year on workspace-related expenses. Employees themselves can save an average of $3000/year by working remotely only half the time.
- Productivity – remote work has been shown to increase productivity among employees. Less office chit-chat and social lunch breaks means more focus and more time spent actually working.
- Retention – 80% of employees would like the opportunity to work from home occasionally while 35% of employees would switch jobs for the opportunity to work remotely full-time.
- Stress – Over 50% of remote workers have reported reduced stress and 44% have a more positive attitude.
- Absenteeism – increased health and well-being in employees has been linked to a reduction in absenteeism. Over 50% of employees who work remotely are less likely to take time off, even when sick.
- Applicant Pool – younger generations view workplace flexibility as a key determinant in accepting a new position. Offering this benefit can help employers attract skilled and talented employees from around the world.
It’s clear that when it comes to remote work, it’s not just the employees who benefit. But in times when this approach is being urgently pushed, unprepared employers are forced to find quick and easy ways of accommodating a remote workforce. It’s important to ensure employees and employers are staying connected as frequently and efficiently as possible.
Here are some great online collaboration tools for remote teams:
- Microsoft Teams: This communication and collaboration platform allows for easy workplace chat, video conferencing, file storage, and application integration.
- Slack: Slack is one of the most popular tools used by remote teams – it’s a good choice for organizations large and small. This platform makes collaborating and connecting seamless and effective.
- Google Hangouts: This is a platform that allows teams to chat, voice call, and video conference with one another.
- Dropbox: This is a popular tool for secure file sharing and storage. Remote teams can easily track work and collaborate with easy access to all files.
- Google Drive: Migrating to the cloud is an extremely efficient and secure method for file sharing and management when remote colleagues can’t be reached.
With these tools in hand, employers and their employees can stay connected without compromising productivity or safety.
