Remote work is an increasingly widespread employment type that enables professionals to work outside of a traditional office setting. Working remotely is the concept that some jobs do not need to be done in a specific place to be successfully performed and to drive desired results. Remote work always represented an appealing option for numerous professionals. Some companies offered occasional remote work as one of the primary benefits, and their employees were more than satisfied to have the opportunity to change their working environment every now and then. However, due to the entire situation caused globally by the Covid19 pandemic, it seems that remote work is becoming the new norm.
Why Is Remote Work so Popular?
Remote work has been famous and favored for a while now, especially among the people, teams, and companies specialized in sales, customer support, software development, HR, content writing, or digital marketing. Basically, anyone who doesn’t need more than a fully functional device like a laptop or a desktop, plus a speedy internet connection, can work remotely. Remote work has countless advantages. Employers and employees can feel the perks of working outside the traditional office environment from day one. Building or hiring remote teams is cost-effective, among other things. Organizations get to preserve their budget while simultaneously keeping their staff happy and productive. As for the employees, the majority prefer remote jobs because of the flexibility they entail.
The year 2020. has brought remote work to a whole new level. The pandemic has shown us how valuable and effective the option to perform daily duties from home is, and that remote staff still drive results. This time, working remotely was not a benefit, an alternative, or a type of employment that represents some sort of a luxury. Work from home has become an obligation and a valid method to preserve our health, and the people surrounding us.
This year everything changed overnight due to the virus and its consequences. All individuals had to transform their lives and habits to adjust them to the new situation. Companies had a hard time, as well. Organizations worldwide felt extreme pressure and needed to alter their methods swiftly to overcome the crises. Companies that embraced remote work way before COVID19 adapted to the new normal much better. They didn’t feel the sudden shift as strongly and painstakingly as those who were never pro-remote did. And it feels like remote work is here to stay, even when the pandemic finally fades away.
Advantages of Remote Work for Companies
The ability to set up an efficient remote team had an immeasurably positive impact on businesses during this entire year. Still, once we all start to feel comfortable and safe without wearing masks in public, and being addicted to hand sanitizer, the benefits of remote work will remain here. Companies that can encourage their teams to work remotely have much to look forward to.
Employee Engagement and Satisfaction
It is known that software developers and other tech specialists are the loudest advocates of remote jobs. Their positions and job specifications have their backs on this matter, and their reasons to perform their roles remotely are legit. The same goes for slightly different jobs. Sales and customer support teams also work perfectly okay if they’re outside of their client’s offices.
Remote employees and teams feel more satisfied when working remotely. They achieve higher levels of independence, they master their own free time and create the balance that suits them, and they become more creative, engaged, and dedicated. Overall employee satisfaction increases when they have the opportunity to work remotely.
Increased Productivity
Remote teams take care of more tasks in less time. They can improve the overall results and quality of the product or service.
The flexible schedule allows them to stay productive, focused, and quicker.
Their productivity is based on these facts:
- No need to travel to work daily.
- Everyone can complete their tasks on their own time.
- Employees have fewer distractions and mainly interact with colleagues regarding significant job-related subjects.
- All team members can rest for a while and continue to work when they feel it’s necessary.
- The majority of remote workers feel more self-motivated and autonomous.
Lower Costs
Companies that encourage remote work save their finances in several aspects. First of all, an employer does not need to rent an office space and avoids spending a specific amount of money on it. Nevertheless, office costs are not the only ones that can be reduced by hiring remotely or by collaborating with an outsourcing company outside your area, country, or region. Overall labor costs can drop, especially if you choose to outsource some projects or responsibilities.
Your Business Is More Competitive
Can we hold younger generations accountable for the popularity of remote jobs? Some call it “the Millennial effect,” but it seems to be more than that. Workplace flexibility is one of the several factors candidates, and potential employees consider when reviewing job openings. Numerous studies have shown that remote work is what many qualified job seekers fancy and expect. Offering this type of employment makes a business more competitive, desirable, appealing, flexible, and profitable.
Being labeled as an adaptable and cooperative employer directly influences employee retention too.
Bigger Talent Pool
Hiring remote teams also allow the company to source and hire outside of regular commuting distance. Finding fitting outsourcing teams and companies, or candidates from new locations can be particularly beneficial in places or positions with skills shortages. Large and small businesses can broaden their talent pool and work with the most skilled individuals, regardless of where they’re based. Being limited to a single area when hiring narrows down the possibilities and prevents organizations from getting to know some extraordinarily skilled people and groups.
More Coverage
Hiring full-time or part-time professionals, teams, or outsourcing companies from another area and a different time zone have its perks. These individuals and teams can cover more ground and resolve potential issues much faster. Companies can have dedicated employees around the globe who would enable 24/7 coverage.
Advantages of Remote Work for Employees
Let’s face it – every employee dreams of occasionally looking like a train wreck while being energetic, productive, and constructive at the same time. What makes remote jobs so satisfying?
A More Flexible lifestyle
Flexibility and freedom of choice. The employee who works from home chooses what their office would look like, and where exactly it would be. Today it could be the living room, and tomorrow they’d feel like getting dressed and going to a co-working space. Besides the physical space, they have more control over their time. A quick coffee break can fix their lack of concentration whenever they feel like needing one. Even a five-minute break hits differently outside of a regular office.
Health and Wellness
Remote workers are healthier. Various studies and researches have shown that some parts of in-house work have an unfavorable impact on employees’ mental and physical wellbeing. These negative aspects can be reduced by working remotely.
Fewer Distractions and Renewed Inspiration
Some psychological researchers concluded that gossiping brings people closer. However, those who are not fans of pointing the finger at someone or discussing a coworker’s unfortunate haircut will love the communication associated with remote work. To be honest, there is no such thing as an office with the perfect balance between noises, music, chat, laughter, and silence that doesn’t feel uncomfortable. Working remotely allows the employees to turn their speakers out loud when they feel cheerful and turn the volume down once they need to focus on the assignment ahead of them entirely.
How to Make Sure Remote Work – Works?
Some companies still have a dose of skepticism regarding remote work. Not all employers feel confident about their staff efforts and the results they will deliver. Everyone who is new to remote work and still has doubts about it becoming a new norm can relax and set up their team by following these simple guidelines.
Take Care of Communication.
Communication is always significant, regardless of the location and type of employment. Every member of an organization needs to stay informed and to be able to reach out to their colleagues, team leaders, managers, and other employees they collaborate with closely. Having every staff member in the loop is particularly important when it comes to remote work, which is why the usage of all digitals tools and communication platforms is inevitable. Slack is a powerful tool for remote teams, and it enables all participants to keep up with what’s going on within their company. Zoom seems to be the most favored e-meeting platform in 2020, followed by the trustworthy and always handy Google Meeting Rooms. Many project management tools also ease performance and keep team members connected. Every company should choose the tools and communication channels that suit their necessities and lead to positive results.
Agree on Core Working Hours
Even though working remotely often implies having a flexible schedule, every remote team has to have certain boundaries and arrangements. These boundaries specifically apply to the core working hours. Regardless of the methodology and frameworks, a company works according to, some online meetings should be held at a previously agreed time. Punctuality makes remote work efficient.
Build Mutual Trust
Collaboration with a remote team requires mutual trust. Finding a candidate or an entire team that’s reliable is crucial. The same goes for outsourcing partnerships – it is essential to cooperate with a trustworthy outsourcing company. Building trust and firm bonds take time, but it gets much easier if the employer does the research and checks references. Once the collaboration commences, it only takes a while to see if the newly hired person meets the requirements and fulfills their duties on time. Hiring an already established team and outsourcing parts of projects or specific assignments to them is often the safest choice and the easiest way to guarantee results.
Conduct Performance Evaluations
The frequency of conducting performance evaluations depends entirely on the employer. However, if they were previously working solely with in-house employees, and now they are switching to hiring remotely, or outsourcing parts of their work, the evaluation of the results needs to be modified. Adjusting the parameters and intervals of assessments according to the new circumstances is vital to obtain an objective insight.
Set a Schedule for Good Work/Life Balance
Like we said – even remote work requires some limits. Organizing the time to match both company’s demands and well-being and employees’ needs is remarkably important. The job needs to be done timely and correctly, deadlines have to be met, and employees must remain content. Setting a schedule that enables all of that might seem tricky, but the key to it is to communicate the goals and intentions.
How to Find a Suitable Remote Team
- The company that provides outsourcing services needs to have qualified people on board, and their skills and expertise need to match their client’s needs. They have to possess the matching knowledge, background, and come from a similar niche.
- Reputation is everything. Finding the right outsourcing partner can get easier after conducting thorough research and reading the testimonials and comments.
- Both parties need to be transparent. Honest communication and carefully defined conditions, goals, aspirations, and missions are crucial.
- Financial compatibility plays a significant role, as well. Even though outsourcing is often the most cost-effective way of cooperation, the price range must not be the factor to look into. Searching for an outsourcing company that fits into the budget and still doesn’t cut back on quality to save the resources is the path towards a successful and long-term collaboration.
If you’d like to know more about finding a suitable outsourcing company, check this out.
