Hiring remote workers isn’t for everyone. You need to have trust in your employees. And you need to have aspects in your business that don’t require hands on, manual labour.

Experts predict that by 2020, 30% of the workforce will either be freelance, outsourced or remote workers. While the benefits of working from home are clear for employees, the advantages for employers are not always so obvious. So, let us show you how you can benefit from a flexible approach that gives your employees the freedom to work from home?

1. Increased Productivity

It may sound counter intuitive, but remote workers can be more productive. When working from home, employees are free from the office distractions such as office gossip or last-minute meetings. Additionally, not everyone is the most productive during office hours. Some people are more productive late at night, while others find their verve in the early hours of the morning. Of course, there will be individuals who will become less productive. Therefore, the key to a successful remote arrangement is the ability to hire the right people.

2. Enhanced Employee Retention

One of the biggest headaches for managers and HR is losing employees they’ve invested time and money in to hire and train. Working from home can provide parents the flexibility they need, while others can benefit from an enhanced work-life balance. Both factors play a crucial part in employee retention. Moreover, 82% of employees say they would be more loyal to employers that offer flexible work options.

3. Lower Costs

Office space can be extremely expensive. In fact, it is likely to be one of the biggest fixed costs most businesses will have. We’re not necessarily saying to do away with an office altogether. Allowing your employees to work from home two days a week, and operating a hot-desking policy the rest of the time, could reduce the amount of office space needed. Furthermore, you’ll save money on associated costs such as electricity and office supplies.

4. Healthier Workers

Having a remote workforce offers several advantages, one of which is a reduced likelihood of employees falling ill. Remote workers avoid exposure to sick people while commuting or in the workplace. They also have greater control over their working environment, including the ability to set their preferred temperature, which can be particularly beneficial for those who find cold air conditioning uncomfortable. Another benefit of remote work is improved work-life balance, which can lead to reduced stress levels for employees working from home.

5. Access To Top Talent

Hiring people who need to commute to work, restricts your accessible talent pool. There is a host of A-grade talent outside of your commuting radius. For example, the software developer you’re looking for might live in the USA or data entry staff in the UK. Moreover, if you want high quality talent, but can’t afford to pay what they’re asking for, you might entice them with the benefit of working remotely.

Hiring remote workers isn’t for everyone. You need to have trust in your employees. And you need to have aspects in your business that don’t require hands on, manual labour. If you do have the opportunity though, hiring remote workers might give your business the competitive edge it needs.

Odyssey Training Teaches Organisations On How To Manage Remote Teams

Contact Odyssey Training on 1300 793 951 to talk about our training courses designed to help individuals and organisations manage remote teams. We empower clients with hands-on training, let our expert training facilitators help to develop your organisation.

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