Why Remote Work Matters for Your Company

Why Remote Work Matters for Your Company 5 Reasons Remote Work Matters Today Photo Credit- Pexels.comAs a business owner, manager, or supervisor, you likely know about or have heard of remote work. It allows employees to work from homeâ€"or a coffee shop, co-working space, restaurant, etc.â€"either part-time or full-time.In the past, this kind of work was hard to achieve, but today’s internet connectivity and technology make it easier to implement.In and of itself, remote work is fairly straightforward. But questions remain. For example, you probably want to know why remote work is increasing in popularity or how it benefits your business. Answers to those questions, as well as tips and tools for managing remote employees, follow.5 Reasons Remote Work Matters TodayevalTo understand why remote work matters today, you need only examine the latest data.Global Workplace AnalyticsevalFlexibility means you and your employees can work when and where it’s best for you. In return, you all experience better work-life balance, which translates into higher productivi tyand employee happiness.2) EfficiencyFlexibility and productivity almost always lead to greater efficiency. CoSo Cloud’s “Remote Collaborative Worker Survey” finds that 30% of remote employees “[accomplish] more in less time” and 24% “accomplish more in the same amount of time.”3) SustainabilityMany businesses have sustainability goals. Remote work can help you meet yours by decreasing your carbon footprint.4) RetentionRemote work sometimes produces a decreased turnover rate. It can also prevent talent gaps and “brain drains” and attract top talentinstead.5) Cost savingsevalevalWith fewer employees in the building, you see reduced utility bills. And, if you allow for total remote work, you can eliminate rent or mortgage payments on office space.If you invest in remote work, even if only on a limited basis, you can experience the benefits listed here. Don’t be surprised if you discover additional advantagesâ€"remote work offers dozens of perks and possibilities o ver time.5 Tips to Initiate Remote Work at Your BusinessIf the reasons for and benefits of remote work convince you to invest in it, use the following steps to implement it:a) Set your objectivesEvery business is different, so figure out why remote work makes sense for yours. Then, measure against that goal to ensure telework provides the highest return on investment possible.b) Craft a remote work policyPolicies cover everything from allowances You’ll also need the right tools to make sure you can manage your remote employees as efficiently as possible. These tools typically fall into one of five broad categories: project management, document management, communications, productivity, and timekeeping, and any of these five popular tools can work wonders for you and your employees:1) SkypeText and telephone are one thing; video is another. Go for the face-to-face encounter whenever possible to stay in touch with employees and see how they’re doing and feeling.2) SlackThis communi cations tool aims to cut down inbox clutter through a live chatting platform. It accomplishes that and a whole lot more with its channels, threads, and emojis.3) AsanaIf Skype and Slack are for day-to-day details, Asana is for the big picture. Use it to track projects and workloads. Similar tools include Basecamp and Trello.4) MuralIf you need to run remote brainstorming sessions, give Mural a look. The tool facilitates online idea mapping and collaborative creative thinking.eval5) DropboxFor online storage and file sharing, Dropbox works great. It isn’t the only option, though, so research data storage options that work best for you and your team.Plenty of online toolsexist to help your business and its remote workers get more things done. To find the ones best suited to your organization, think about your current and future needs. Next, test a couple of options before committing to one.Remote work seems to be here to stay. Employees want it and employers benefit from it. To get started with the trend, use the insights and tips shared here.