What Is Remote Work?

Have you ever found yourself getting tired of waking up every Monday, to get ready for work to then get stuck in rush hour traffic, just to sit at a desk? You, along with a bunch of other people, feel the same way. But instead, what if you could sleep in an extra 30 minutes, make a cup of coffee, and sit at a desk in your home office or kitchen table to start the workday? Sounds pretty great! That’s what we call remote work, or also known as working from home. What is remote work you ask? Great question! We’ll break it down and answer all your questions here.   

What Is It? 

A remote worker is someone who does not commute into an office daily, and instead works from a location of their choosing, typically their home or a co-working space or coffee shop. Depending on the company, some may work from home, or remotely, full-time, part-time, or as needed. Different situations lead employees to remotely. Sometimes it’s to benefit the company and other times it’s due to location. There are many reasons working remotely is a better option because of the benefits that come with it. 

Are There Benefits? 

Yes! Working remotely comes with many benefits for both the employee and the employer. This is why we’re seeing companies offering more remote positions. 

Commute 

Most of the time, the farthest a person working remotely will need to commute is downstairs to their home-office or down the street to their local coffee shop. Working remotely requires little to no commute so rush hour traffic is no longer a concern or issue. Businesses don’t have to worry about employees running late due to “traffic” and employees don’t have to be concerned with commuting to and from the office. 

Overhead Costs 

One of the main reasons companies make the switch to remote work is because of the overhead costs. They don’t have to pay rent for a leased office space. Even by cutting down to remote work 2 days a week means less time spent in the office. And most businesses will agree that rent for an office is one of the most expensive costs associated with running a business. 

Increased Productivity

Believe it or not, but most businesses will agree that employees who get to work remotely are more productive. Sure, there are distractions anywhere, but by working in the quiet of your own home or at a local coffee shop reduces the distractions a person may typically find from co-workers or loud office spaces. 

Wider Selection 

Some other benefits include having a wider selection of candidates to choose from when it comes to hiring. Since commuting isn’t an issue, businesses have the flexibility to extend their search to all over the world if needed. This means they’re not limited to hiring people who are within a 20-mile radius.

Who Should Work From Home? 

For an employer to allow their employees to work remotely, they have to have a certain level of trust in them. This means trusting the type of work ethic your employees have. Certain types of people work better remotely than others. When considering remote work for your employees the characteristics to look for include strong communication skills, self-discipline, motivation, and hard-working. Someone who is able to accomplish tasks and stay focused on their own will. Employees who get distracted easily or can’t hold themselves accountable shouldn’t work remotely and that’s ok. 

Working remotely can be a trial and error for some employees and even employers. Consider the type of business and the type of employees involved before making the transition.