As we venture into the flexible workplace revolution, it is easier to notice how more and more employees are now working from the comfort of their homes.
Homebodies are a big fan of remote work. And just like many of us, I’ve experienced the best of both worlds going to work on a daily basis when things were normal and doing remote work when social distancing has been observed due to coronavirus spread. For a few months of working from home, I find that I’m able to get a lot more accomplished in my kitchen-table-turned-office-desk than the traditional cubicle setup.
It is quite more obvious for us employees to point out the benefits of remote work than the advantages it has for employers. But come to think of it, it actually makes plenty of sense if companies give their employees the freedom to work from home. Speaking of which, here are some of the best reasons why adopting a flexible work setup could help boost your startup business.
Companies will have fewer expenditures.
Office space is one of the biggest fixed expenditures for small companies, which is why downsizing the physical offices is the new game plan of small businesses that can do operations anywhere with access to the Internet.
By allowing your employees to work from home, you see no reason to spend on costly office spaces. Simple logic. No office space? Fewer expenditures! You will no longer have to pay for bulk office supplies, electric bills, furniture, technology, and the like. This can only mean one thing: the company will claim the costs back from cutting out on these useless expenditures as a way to save and improve its cash flow. In case you missed it, IBM has been saving about $100 million each year ever since the company started offering its remote-work program.
Also, read How Struggling Businesses Can Improve Cash Flow Amidst (and After) a Pandemic
Employee retention will be improved.
Losing employees can cause a big headache for HR support teams. In order to retain good employees, companies are trying their best to make their people happy and satisfied with their jobs. One way of doing so is by giving employees the freedom they crave for. Remote work, for example, can give parents the flexibility they need. It’s the same with other workers that can benefit from an enhanced work-life balance, which is crucial to retaining employees.
Less Time Wasted = Increased Productivity
We all know that productivity is the key to business success. It is very important to utilize time in more constructive activities. By offering a remote-work setup, there will be no more wasting time on useless meetings as well as commuting to work. Funny how these workers are traveling for a few hours just to get into the office when they could’ve used the time in more gainful things than falling into sleep while sitting on a train.
Employees will take fewer sick leaves.
For most employees, coming to work can be miserable when they have colds, slight fever, or an upset stomach. But, working from home makes it not so bad. Employers do not tolerate absenteeism in the workforce which makes WFH a win-win situation for both employees and managers. Employees who suffer from mild sickness can still do their work if they stay at home. Bonus point: there will be no shared sickness inside the office.
Companies will get some good PR.
As much as possible, you want your company to receive a positive observation from the public. According to my news sources, there have been sort of bad reactions to Yahoo when it stopped its work-from-home program. Getting some good PR while having employees working all over the country (or the world) can take your business to places. That is one great strategy to increase your promotion into local and international markets.
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