The Benefits of Working From Home

There is no doubt that remote and hybrid work has skyrocketed in popularity. And employee preference is not the only thing trending upward ” productivity is on the rise, too. But, like any work model, the hybrid model comes with advantages, risks, and challenges.

The remote-work infrastructure implemented during the pandemic is still in place, meaning it’s been easier for teams to adopt hybrid schedules and stay flexible amidst the continuing uncertainties of COVID. Now 42% of remote-capable employees split their time between home and the office, and that number is projected to top 53% in the coming years. We’ve discussed how a hybrid work model leads to increased productivity and higher employee satisfaction levels, but did you know that both of these benefits lead to a third benefit? It combines the improved productivity of remote workers with the superior in-person collaboration and communication of physical office spaces. Initiating a hybrid or remote work routine has led to increased company savings and worker productivity. Research shows that businesses lose $600 billion a year to workplace distractions, and that remote workers are 35-40% more productive than those in the office full time. WeWork’s coworking spaces empower employees to do their best work, no matter where in the world they are.

Improved employee satisfaction and culture

56% of workplace leaders anticipate saving on costs due to reducing their physical workplace footprint. You can build a thriving hybrid workspace by carefully considering its benefits, choosing the correct tools, and ensuring clear and concise communication channels. Like any work model, a hybrid work environment has significant benefits when implemented correctly. In a remote working space, threats like phishing have become more common. Similarly, when employers give their staff members more autonomy, the members feel empowered, improving job satisfaction and retention. Hybrid workplaces aid in strengthening the mutual trust between employees and the company. Hybrid work can reduce commuting time, allowing employees to use that time productively.

This can be especially helpful for job seekers living in rural communities and small towns where there may not be many available local positions. The average one-way commuting time in the U.S. is 27.1 minutes—that’s nearly an hour each day spent getting to and from work, and it really adds up. According to the Auto Insurance Center, commuters spend about 100 hours commuting and 41 hours stuck in traffic each year. Some “extreme” commuters face much longer commute times of 90 minutes or more each way. Staggered schedules in which not every employee’s start and finish times overlap.

What Leaders Should Do Next:

Working from home helps employees save a lot of money by cutting costs on commuting to and from work , purchasing professional attire, and eating meals outside or getting pre-packaged meals delivered to their office. Working in one office space with no remote options available can actually be quite limited. While remote work has its perks, crucial elements like communication and collaboration can be harmed in such an environment. For example, Microsoft found that collaboration can take a serious hit when employees work only remotely.

• Similarly, when employers give their staff members more autonomy, the members feel empowered, improving job satisfaction and retention.
• Not only will this benefit the employees, but it can have serious positive knock-on effects for employers too.
• When employers trust their employees to be productive and focused on work, whether on-site or remote, it goes a long way.
• It is widely known and agreed that happy and satisfied workers tend to be much more productive and have a better overall performance.
• The way employees work in a physical office has changed for companies which have adopted a hybrid work model.
• The hybrid workplace is a business model that combines a mixture of both remote work and office work.

That’s because organizations typically have poor technological infrastructure and inadequate cyber and data security. Generation Z will soon become the largest segment of the workforce and they are interested in a hybrid approach to work. 74 percent of Gen Z would prefer either working from home or splitting time at home and work . Work environments have changed drastically over the past couple of years.

Weekly Newsletter

In a hybrid environment, it can be challenging to implement team-building exercises and activities to build a workplace culture. As employees aren’t interacting in the office every day, it can be difficult for them to form and maintain relationships with their colleagues. When they don’t have to travel to the office every day, colleagues can save on expensive transportation costs. As you adopt a hybrid work model, keeping the employee experience front and center can benefit both your company and your employees. But taking time to fully understand your options and responsibilities in creating a more flexible work environment is crucial, too.

• It announced it was indefinitely extending the option to work from home or remotely, with employees visiting the office as often as they wanted to.
• Setting these boundaries is especially important if you’re a manager, because it encourages workers to completely disconnect when they’re off the clock.
• As a manager, you can set more realistic expectations around response times and empower your team to snooze notifications when they need to.
• Many workers are expressing anxiety about this generating an office in-group and a home out-group.
• Having options for focused work and at the same time collaborating with teammates, nurtures employee well-being and ensures well-maintained company culture.
• With so many different types of working models, it can be hard to pick a style that suits your team’s needs.

Because they are out of sight, managers assume that employees are slacking off, despite the fact that they put in long hours to show otherwise. Companies must educate their employees about overworking and other negative practises.

What Are The Most Important Hybrid Work Advantages?

This major economic benefit of remote work could continue as more companies make it a long-term solution. One group may do Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and the other will take Tuesday and hybrid work from home Thursday. Alternatively, you can offer the first and third week of the month versus the second and fourth. Hybrid or remote work is more susceptible to creating a culture of burnout.