Can You Really Work From Home?

In nearly every industry, employers and employees alike are benefiting from the advantages of remote work, but can you make real money working from home?

Known as the ability to work from anywhere, anytime, remote work was a full-on global work movement even before the coronavirus pandemic forced many to work from their homes.

In fact, many of today’s top companies offer full, half, or partial remote work. Working remotely doesn’t always mean “from home,” either; it can apply anytime an employee works off-site—whether that’s at a coffee shop or a flexible workspace.

Ultimately, working remotely allows for increased flexibility and autonomy for employees. According to Inc., nine out of 10 workers who currently work remotely plan to do so for the rest of their careers. Technology such as videoconferencing software, collaboration platforms, and cloud services keep people connected and allow them to have meetings and complete projects from anywhere, anytime.

Working remotely allows for better work-life balance

For many businesses, even a couple of decades ago, working remotely would have been nearly impossible. Without the right technology, an employee had to go to the office to get their work done. The downside to these technological advances? Blurred lines between work and home life. So maintaining a healthy work-life balance is top of mind for so many employees. The ability to balance these two worlds has become the key to feeling happier and more productive while at work. Saving time that would otherwise be spent on a long commute allows employees to have better work-life balance and adds hours back into their days.

Remote employees have more freedom

It’s clear that the advantages of remote work help keep employees happy, engaged, and fulfilled. According to Gallup’s State of the American Workplace report, “The optimal engagement boost occurs when employees spend [around] three to four days working off-site.” Need to take a trip across the country to visit family? Or be home in the afternoon to attend a child’s soccer game? A traditional employee would need to request time off in order to do so. But a remote employee can still clock in from home or a regional headquarters at their destination, as well as check in, as needed. From working from home to traveling abroad to being in the office one day a week or three, employees enjoy the freedom of remote work.

Being a remote employee promotes employee well-being

With no commute, no lunch rush, and no long hours in the office away from family or friends, working remotely can improve the health and wellness of employees by reducing stress—and limiting exposure to potentially sick coworkers. But employers shouldn’t skip a wellness plan in the remote workplace; inclusion in company wellness programs, such as access to the gym, is just as important for those with a flexible work schedule.

Remote work equals an increase in productivity

Employers today are grappling with an existential question for the ages: “If I don’t see my employees working, are they?” The ability for employers to trust their teams, even when they work out of the office, could be key to driving more productivity than ever before. Data shows that when employees are able to skip the extra coffee breaks, a long commute, and any other distractions to focus on their work, productivity reigns supreme. For example, in Stanford University’s two-year remote work productivity study, the researchers followed 500 employees after dividing them into “remote” and “traditional” working groups. The remote working group results not only showed a work productivity boost equal to a full day’s work, but also fewer sick days and a 50 percent decrease in employee attrition.

Before accepting a role that includes remote work or asking their managers to allow them to work remotely, employees should consider their own work-life boundaries. Employees may want to ask themselves, “Can I thrive as a remote worker? Will I be able to structure my days efficiently? Is my company technologically enabled to support my working remotely?”

If the answer is yes, a career working remotely may be for you. If you need help taking the dive feel free to reach out at maryann@the-pm-agency.com.