The Benefits of Online Work From Home
It is more popular than ever before to work at home. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic was discovered, many employees chose to work at home on a regular basis.
Working from home can bring many advantages, regardless of the reason. Here are five reasons to consider giving it a try:
1. No Commuting
Working from home has many advantages, including the ability to avoid daily commutes. Many employees spend more than an hour each day traveling. Eliminating this time will allow employees to stay up earlier, exercise more or complete the chores. It also saves on fuel costs and also reduces the environmental impact of the company.
The company should give their remote employees the tools needed to work effectively and to support them with setting up a comfortable workspace and instruction on how to set up distraction-free environments. However, there are some concerns regarding this. Companies must be aware that working at home may not be a good option for people who are introverts, and may find the lack social interaction demotivating.
Additionally, some roles may require a level of physical collaboration to be effective and companies must be clear with their expectations. They should also think about whether remote work could lead to confidentiality issues, such as neighbors hearing private conversation and seeing sensitive files on computers.
Another benefit of WFH is that it enables companies to hire employees from more diverse locations. This helps diversify the workforce and create more diverse and inclusive culture. This can also increase the accessibility to talent in rural areas and small town where job opportunities are not as plentiful. This could result in a rise in isolation and disengagement when employees don't make an effort to connect with colleagues via email, video calls or chat platforms. To counter this, encourage employees to change their work from home location on a regular basis or to use breaks to engage in things they enjoy in order to spark their creativity.
2. More Time to Play
You can pick the time you want to work at home. You could, for instance take a whole month off in the summer to go whitewater kayaking. If you're working on a large project and you want to work late into the evening or during the weekend.
However all this flexibility could cause burnout and overwork. To avoid this, create a dedicated workspace to ensure that you are focused and productive. You should also sign off when you're done working to allow you to enjoy your evenings and weekends.
Another benefit of working at home is that it lets you work more hours without worrying about going over your vacation time or missing other opportunities. You can also save money on travel expenses and work from home, which includes costs related to internet or utilities.
For many people, these benefits outweigh the challenges of working from home during the pandemic. For those who telecommute for a majority or all of their time, the biggest challenge is getting their work completed without interruptions. (38 percent of people aged 18-49 compared to 18% of those over 50). The youngest workers are also the most likely to state that lack of motivation is limiting their ability to work from home (42% vs. 20%). But those who are able to do their jobs remotely and feel they can trust their employers are generally happy with their arrangement.
3. Less Stress
You are able to better control your surroundings when working from your home. This means less physical and emotional stress which can lead to improved health and greater productivity at work. In a study by the OECD workers and managers were rated very highly for
flexible remote work for their firm performance and wellbeing. Benefits included less commuting and a more personalized workspace.
The absence of commuting takes away one of the biggest sources of stress in people's lives - traffic jams, delays on trains, and many other issues. It could save employees money, time and the inconveniences of public transportation, especially if they live in rural areas that have limited access to public transport.
A study conducted by Ergotron also revealed that employees who work at home can help them build healthier exercise habits. Employees can take daily walks, jogging and other activities without having to factor in the time it takes to commute. A Staples study found that 73% reported eating better after adjusting to working from home.
Another key element to reducing stress while working from home is setting boundaries. It is
easy work from home jobs to get overwhelmed while working remotely and become exhausted when you don't have a proper balance between your professional life and your personal life. It's essential to establish clear boundaries with your family and friends as well as colleagues particularly if they're not used to you staying at home all day. You can use awareness apps, time-blocking or rules regarding allowing distractions to accomplish this.
Finally, when it comes to reducing stress while working at home, you can accomplish more by focusing on tasks you are aware of as being the most important. You'll feel more productive and enthusiastic at work when you take the time to concentrate on these tasks.
4. Flexibility
Flexible work can mean different things to different people, but in general, it means allowing employees to change their working hours around based on their own requirements. This could mean working from home, working remotely, or a combination of both. It's often a popular option for parents, those who reside far from work or those who struggle to find a balanced lifestyle. It's also a good option for those who have health issues that make it difficult to travel.
It is not only good for employees to be able to work from home with an affluent schedule, but it can also help businesses grow. Employees are 22% happier when they work remotely. This is due to a better balance between work and life and less anxiety. Remote workers are also 56 percent less likely than their counterparts to take sick days, which can reduce costs.
One of the difficulties with flexible working is ensuring that it actually improves productivity. When you're at home, it is easy to get distracted by your family and chores or other distractions. It is essential to set up an area in which you can concentrate and set clear boundaries. Having a
flexible schedule may require more discipline than some people are accustomed to but by being prepared and adhering to a schedule you can be sure that you're able to meet any deadlines or achieve your goals.
Instead of simply giving lip to flexible working, leaders need to ensure that they are setting the right example and promote the benefits of flexible work for all employees in their company. It can be difficult for employees in the junior ranks to demand flexible working arrangements or use them.
5. Better Health
The stressors of working in the office - long commutes fluorescent lights, coworkers always 'on' and distractions that are hard to control - can be minimized or eliminated through remote work. This results in happier and healthier employees who are more productive and motivated to perform well.
Working at home, for instance it eliminates the need to navigate crowds or traffic to get to work, and also to take time out to buy lunch. Instead workers can eat nutritious meals that they prepare themselves and are more flexible to incorporate workouts into their schedules.
A study by the OECD between 2020 and 2021 has revealed that working from home can boost productivity for employees when done properly. This is because working at home allows for an easier separation of personal and professional duties. There are also less distractions and more concentration on
work from home flexible hours.