In an annual survey by the International Workplace Group, 74% of the respondents answered that flexible working has become the ‘new normal’. Hence, if you believe that in-office is the only way to go, your company is behind the times.
Continuous technological innovation has made it possible for people to work from anywhere in the world. All that’s needed to be successful is – among other things:
- A wide set of skills.
- Quality productivity tools.
- A reliable internet connection.
Despite this, some organisations are stuck on the thought that working from home is beneficial only to the workers themselves. Such outdated thinking impacts the happiness of your staff as well as your choice of applicants. Even your best employees are going to leave your business before long.
Why Remote Trumps the Office Every Time
While there truly are challenges that come with a remote workforce, there’s a greater chance that it’ll be one of the wisest decisions you could make for your enterprise, especially when you’re just starting out.
Firstly, it saves you money
You get to significantly reduce overheard because there’s no need to maintain a physical office. When you go virtual, you’ll save on thousands of dollars per year in various expenses such as:
- Utilities
- In-house IT
- Leasing fees
Rent may be one of the biggest savings any small to medium-sized enterprise can expect. Depending on the location, vacancy rates, and unemployment rates, a small commercial space can cost up to $5000. That’s not counting the bills for electricity, water, internet, supplies, repairs, and so on.
A physical office requires a security guard and/or a receptionist as well. Not only do you have to pay their salaries but also for their recruitment, training, tax obligations, medical benefits, and vacation pay. Cleaning staff may be hired in-house or outsourced but still cost thousands per year.
Secondly, it boosts productivity
We’ve covered in a previous article how remote workers are more productive than their in-office counterparts for 5 main reasons. For starters, they go above and beyond what’s expected of them thanks to fewer distractions and a quieter working environment.
They’re also willing to work longer hours to accomplish more tasks. This is due to the flexibility which allows them to spread their tasks throughout the day or week. Plus, they often make the extra effort to bond with the rest of the team to achieve common goals.
Being able to work anywhere makes them happier with their roles and, thus, they’re less likely to transfer to another employer in the near future. Plus, they finish more projects in less time so they can start on the next one earlier.
Thirdly, it offers more talents
Because your employees are allowed to work anywhere, you can search for new hires anywhere. You no longer have to settle for top candidates in your area since you can find even better ones in Nicaragua, the Philippines, or wherever else.
You’ll never be starved for qualified applicants so you can make the best hiring decisions for the company. Additionally, you can compete for them at a rate you can afford since the minimum wage in outsourcing destinations tend to be lower, particularly if you’re from the western part of the world.
Flexible working opportunities make you more attractive to talents as well. If they had to choose between you and another organisation that offers more money but not remote arrangements, they may pick you for the mere fact that they’ll enjoy more freedom with you.
Fourthly, it makes people happier
Money is a strong driving force. Even so, lots of people choose to receive lower pay if it means they get to work from home. Research from Leadership IQ shows that 45% of telecommuters and 38% of mobile workers love their job more than those who work in an office.
What is it about remote work that makes them happier, you ask? To begin with, they’re spared the hassle of commuting to work. This also means they don’t have to get dressed up since changing their top is often enough to appear decent in videos.
Another thing is that they save money from buying meals since they can just cook for themselves. Best of all, they achieve better work-life balance as they are able to spend more time with their loved ones or travel to other places.
Fifthly, it means stronger culture
While it sounds easier to build a company culture when everyone works in the same office, it’s possible to take it to the next level when you’re virtual. It’s the same technology that boosts communication that helps create a strong remote culture.
Tools like Skype or Slack can be used for talking to colleagues about their kids, their sports, their adventures, or even their recipes. Meaningful conversations are just one private message away rather than through chance meetings by the water cooler or scheduled interactions during team outings.
These talks tend to happen in an unbiased way without any office politics or cliques involved. Instead of interacting behind closed doors, they’re often done in group chats so people are less worried about being the centre of gossip and more comfortable to share about themselves.
Grow Your Remote Team Today
Going completely virtual doesn’t have to happen overnight. Changes can be made slowly as you gradually get used to the technology that makes it happen. As the saying goes, it’s fine to take one small step at a time.
Regardless if you’re starting a remote team or scaling one, we at Remote Workmate can help you find the top talent. Our offshore staffing solutions cover everything, from putting together the job description to conducting the initial screening.
You’ll hesitate less about working with a virtual professional when you’re assured that the person you’re hiring is qualified, skilled, and experienced. Once you see how much value they offer to your organisation, you’ll be more comfortable about recruiting more online experts.
Arrange a call with us to discuss your requirements for the role.
