The Benefits of Staying Remote Post-Pandemic

With the nationwide shutdown that began earlier this year, a lot of businesses suddenly found themselves operating in a completely different way than ever before: with all (or most) of their workers at home.

While the switch from an in-office experience to telecommuting can be quite the adjustment — check out our tips for acclimating to this different lifestyle — many companies are realizing that they get just as much accomplished with these remote teams. And that's left a lot of business leaders wondering: Do we ever really need to return to the office?

If you're considering making this temporary solution a permanent one, here are a few benefits to consider.

You'll save money.
How much are you spending each month on office space? Now imagine what it would be like if you could instead invest that money back into your business, whether it be increased marketing efforts, equipment upgrades, or an expanded workforce that could then generate more revenue from a larger customer base.

Your workers are happier.
Of course, there is the possibility that some of your workers will begin to conflate work and personal life when first adjusting to the remote lifestyle. But, once they establish that distinct separation — which is something that you should actively encourage — many find that their lives are much more balanced and fulfilling. There's no longer the stress that comes with both starting and finishing each day fighting with traffic. And with no daily commute, they have even more personal time to dedicate to whatever it is that makes them happy. And when your workers are happy …

Productivity increases.
Despite the stigma and the potential for distractions that abound at home, most employers see a boost in productivity from their at-home workers. Without a commute, you remove the chance that days may start late due to unforeseen traffic. While mingling with colleagues is an important and healthy aspect of maintaining company culture — and we do encourage remote workers to take the time to chat with each other — there's less of a chance that too much socializing will occur. Oh, and let's not forget: Workers tend not to get sick as frequently when not going into an office each day. Fewer missed workdays mean projects are less likely to fall behind schedule.

You can attract more talent.
When there isn't a physical office to report to, that means (in many cases) you aren't restricted to a local pool of talent. Instead, you can cast a wider net when hiring, giving you access to top-tier leaders you may not have been able to bring on board otherwise, since you won't have to convince them to move. (You'll also save yourself the expense of any stipend to cover those moving costs.)

You'll experience less turnover.
People love flexibility. That's one of the biggest appeals of remote work. People who can work from anywhere are far less likely to seek out employment elsewhere, in part because they enjoy the freedom of working from anywhere and they don't want to give that up. As a business owner, that benefits you twofold. You'll have a more seasoned team of dedicated workers that truly know your business inside and out. And you won't have the compounding expense that comes with training quite as many replacement members.

What do you think? Is your company ready to make remote life a permanent solution?

Have any questions on how Actsoft can help you?