The coronavirus pandemic has heavily affected daily routines, national economies, and businesses. It forced companies to start adopting remote work as soon as community quarantine and lockdown announcements were made. It’s a sudden change and sacrifice for companies to survive through the global health crisis.
Thanks to today’s digital technologies and tools, businesses and their staff can continue core business operations from home. Remote working is more important now with the threat of virus transmission and when physical distancing measures are in place. To keep your business running, you must protect your employees and observe safety precautions, as well.
Besides browsing the internet for remote work tips to help motivate your newly remote team, let’s look at why remote work is good for your business during this difficult time.
Keeps Employees Safe from Infection
The most important and primary reason why businesses are shifting to telecommuting is to prevent virus transmissions. You wouldn’t want to increase the risk of transmission in your physical office, would you? Even with masks, face shields, and physical distancing implemented in your office, the threat of transmission remains high when your workers step out of their homes to commute to work.
Although this is given, know that telework does not take out the benefits of face-to-face interactions. If there’s anything meaningful that came out of this disruption, it’s that digital connectivity is a valuable tool that allows businesses and individuals to grow more resilient.
Helps Employers Manage Other Risks
Some may think that remote working is only a temporary solution that only benefits white-collared workers. If companies who already practice remote management pre-COVID-19 heard this, they would possibly beg to disagree. The side effects of telecommuting also bring a positive impact on other systemic problems, such as a modest reduction in traffic congestion.
Aside from eliminating the stress brought upon by commuting, you can also help them cope with stress at home by conducting engagement activities or providing them the tools they need to perform better. If you choose to have a combination of remote and on-site work, you can move to a smaller office. Alternatively, you can decide to move to a prime location in the future.
While recreating the office at home is challenging, at least employees no longer have to sit through endless meetings that could have been an email. Furthermore, they will have the freedom to create a dedicated workspace that can stimulate their productivity.
Encourages a Sustainable Operational Model
The remote work model forced by the global pandemic has challenged the leadership of many businesses. But, the sudden shift also meant an opportunity for companies to assess and adjust their way of working sustainably, which can bring many benefits in the long run.
For instance, it completely cuts off commuting time and requires less office space. You can choose to move to a smaller office space in the future that can hold staggered office work schedules. Moreover, remote workers are less likely to take short absences due to sickness.
Remote working also enables companies to test if offering flexible work hours will help with the employees’ productivity. It allows flexibility to deal with unforeseen situations in the future, such as natural calamities or a public health crisis like the COVID-19.
Other Benefits of Remote Working
Here are some other benefits of adopting remote work that you can expect when you make the switch.
- Cut costs – One of the main benefits of remote work is savings, as there are fewer fees to pay, such as payments for real estate, electricity, and other dues. Switching to telecommuting is one of the best ways you can save money as a small business owner. Having a remote workforce, even if on a staggered schedule or just a portion of your company, can help reduce costs.
- Increased employee productivity – A study found that employees who worked from home were 4.4% more productive. While more free time and money saved on transportation costs result in happy employees, you are still working amid a pandemic. You can help alleviate the anxieties and stress brought upon by this difficult time by hosting employee engagement to help improve their productivity.
- Reduced employee turnover – Losing a competent employee can be costly for your business. One of the best ways you can keep them satisfied with your organization is to allow them to have flexible hours when they work from home. This lets them work when they are most productive.
Wrapping It Up
Because of these challenging times, many businesses must start adopting remote work. And accept that it will take a while before everything goes back to normal. In the meantime, physical distancing, wearing face masks and shields, and working from home, serve as the “new normal.”
For managers and business owners, know that there will be challenges. But, with great leadership, defined goals, and urgency in addressing issues, you can set up practices and guidelines that will make remote working effective for your business.
