Before COVID-19, 2 in 10 US workers whose jobs could be done remotely worked from home. Now, that number has risen to 6 in 10.
This is a major shift. And many expect it to be a permanent one. After all, working from home comes with many benefits for employees and employers alike.
In fact, 91% of US workers working at least some of their hours remotely hope they can continue to work from home after the pandemic.
So why exactly has working from home become so popular? Here are 7 reasons:
1. No commute
The most obvious benefit of working from home is that you don’t have to commute. According to the US Census Bureau, the average one-way commute in the US in 2019 was 27.6 minutes. That’s nearly an hour of your day spent just driving to and from work. So by switching to remote work, you effectively gain an hour to your day.
No commute also means you save money on gas, car maintenance, parking fees, and maybe even daycare if you have kids. Plus, you’ll avoid all the stress from car issues and traffic.
As for employers, remote work means they don’t have to provide as much office space if any at all. This saves them money on real estate, utility bills, and office supplies like computers, desks, chairs, and company snacks.
Finally, fewer commutes help the environment by reducing carbon emissions from cars and office buildings. This makes your business more eco-friendly, which helps boost your brand and attract environmentally-conscious customers and employees.
2. Location independence
Remote work also allows you to be location independent. There might be some location restraints due to tax or legal reasons, but otherwise, you can pretty much live wherever you want!
So why not move out of the city to save on high housing costs? Or to get away from all the crowds? Whatever you decide, remote work gives you more flexibility on where to live.
It also allows you to work while traveling. For example, you could visit a distant family member without taking off work. Or you could go on a “workation” to Hawaii. Always wanted to tour Europe? Now you can.
Source: https://medium.datadriveninvestor.com/what-is-location-independent-8bbc592e7425
3. Larger talent pool
When hiring remote workers, you have a larger talent pool to choose from. You can hire from pretty much anywhere across the US or even outside it when people don’t need to come to a physical office.
Hiring people from different locations encourages more diversity and fosters inclusivity. And it allows you to take advantage of lower wages in countries like India. So the location flexibility is a win-win for all.
4. Comfortable home office
Another benefit to remote work is the ability to create your own home office. Not everyone likes the sterile feel of a corporate environment. But at home, you can set up your office the way you want to. Personalize it with photos, stock your fridge with snacks you like, or get that ergonomic chair or standing desk you prefer. When you work from home, everything can be customized to your liking.
Source: https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/cheap-and-easy-ways-to-level-up-your-home-office
5. Flexible work schedule
Since remote teams often have workers living in different time zones, you usually work asynchronously, which gives you a flexible work schedule. As long as you meet your deadlines, you can work when it’s most convenient for you.
This also makes it easier to pause your work on short notice. For example, if there’s an emergency, a family member needs a ride somewhere, or you’re needed around the house, stepping away from work for a moment isn’t a big deal.
6. Increased productivity
Working from home also increases productivity. According to one survey, 77% of remote workers said they are more productive when working remotely, 30% said they accomplished more in less time, and 24% said they accomplished more in the same amount of time. And it’s easy to see why.
At home, you have fewer distracting coworkers, unnecessary meetings, and office politics. Overall, your working environment is probably quieter, allowing you to focus less on socializing and more on performance.
7. Improved health and happiness
Lastly, working from home keeps you healthier and happier. By being more productive and not having to commute, you tend to have more time for family, hobbies, exercise, and more, all of which encourage a healthier work-life balance.
On top of that, working from home makes it less likely that you’ll get exposed to illness. So if you’re worried about COVID-19 or other sicknesses, remote work is definitely the way to go. You’ll miss less work and feel better overall.
Apply to Remote Software Development Jobs!
With all the obvious benefits, working from home is a no-brainer. It improves business performance and costs less money. And with how much can be done online these days, switching to a remote work policy is fairly easy. Whether you’re a digital marketing, e-commerce, or B2B SaaS company, going remote is easier than ever.
If you need custom software to manage remote teams, DEV.co can help. Our software developers have years of experience in designing custom project management software to help businesses work more efficiently. Whatever your software needs, we can turn your vision into a reality.
If you’re a software developer looking for remote jobs and working opportunities, get in touch!
Connect with Ryan on Linkedin.
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