Coronavirus: More Than Two-Fifths of Employees Likely To Continue Remote Working After Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has proven that more employees can thrive while working from home than it was originally thought.

The Coronavirus outbreak has affected our lives greatly. People all over the world continue to be restricted—their work, leisure, and family life disrupted by this unusual virus. Vacation spots, travel, dining out, and even shopping have been restricted in most of the parts of the globe, which is causing people to find alternative ways to keep their lives afloat. 

For people working at offices, the alternative option in this pandemic situations was to work from home. Now it has been a year of people staying indoors and getting used to this new way of working. As per several research and surveys, more than two-fifths of employees are likely to continue working from home even after the pandemic is over.

These surveys help organizations understand better what the workforce wants even after the situation gets better. In the past few months, even the previously hesitant organizations in letting employees work from home had to adapt to the new policies.

Working from home has its pros and cons that the organizations are observing in the current situation. Usually, the productivity of employees is greater while working remotely. However, collaboration and communication are at stake. 

The organizations are working actively towards creating better communication strategies so people do not have to struggle in communication between teams. Multiple tools are present for project management and collaborations. Video tools such a Zoom and Skype have enabled people to attend meetings, hold webinars, online courses, etc., all while staying at home. 

Let's take a look at some of the benefits of working from home, causing employees to prefer working from home instead of going back to the office. 

Flexibility and Agility

One of the most comfortable aspects of working from home is the flexibility and agility in work arrangements. When the employees aren't bound to office spaces, they tend to be ready to attend meetings, take calls, and work with better attention. 

They can start working early or keep working late, depending on their own schedule. They can also fit in some personal work or pray on their prayer times and move things per their needs—making it a good opportunity for employees to manage their work.

Improved Employee Retention

Having permission to work from home creates a lot of ease for the employees, as it allows them to manage their work along with other duties such as childcare. This can help employee retention as most employees now prefer to work in a flexible environment where there are no strict timing and physical presence policies. 

Increased Productivity 

While working from home, employees tend to be more productive as they do not have to waste time on commuting to the office. The time that is usually spent during the commute is now used in a productive way where they can easily work for longer times if they have to without being stressed about reaching the office on time. There are also fewer distractions and interference at home as compared to office space, so employees tend to focus better while working remotely.

Improved Staff Health and Wellbeing

Working from home also helps in employee health and well-being as there are fewer chances of them catching a disease from the office of getting stressed during the long commute hours. Working from home also enables people to take care of themselves, go for a walk, exercise during work, have healthy meals, etc.

A Customizable Office

Another benefit of working from home is that employees can have an office space of their own preference. For example, if someone finds their desk at the office small, they can have a larger and more organized space at home where they can arrange things as per their need. If you want to put up pictures or post-it notes, have a small plant by your side, or setup a personal printer, you can do it all at your work-from-home desk.

Impact on Sustainability

Not only is it beneficial for employees to work from home, but it is also good for the planet as well. When people work remotely, they are helping to reduce their carbon footprint, which is very harmful to the environment. In the initial phases of lockdown after the Coronavirus outbreak, there was a visible difference in the atmosphere as fewer cars were on the roads causing carbon emissions. 

Savings

Another aspect that people appreciate while working from home is that they are able to save up a lot of money. The fuel and commute cost is usually a lot for people coming from distant places to work, but as they work remotely, the cost of travel is saved. 

Similarly, eating food from restaurants daily is another cost that people usually have to spend when working at an office. While working from home, there is the opportunity to save on a lot of food costs. Other opportunities to save include gas, car maintenance, transportation, parking fees, a professional wardrobe, etc. 

Location Independence

While working from home, you don't have to be worried about being in the same city or even country. You simply need your laptop and an internet connection to start working. It doesn’t matter if you decide to work from home, a restaurant, a zoo, or anywhere you want, as long as you're online and working on time. This aspect also gives employees the freedom to be able to work from anywhere they want rather than being restricted to a single place. 

The above were some of the benefits that you can attain while working from home, and that is why multiple employees will prefer to work from home even after the pandemic is over. It is also beneficial for organizations to let their employees work from home as it helps in saving multiple resources, including office space, electricity, and other office supplies. Here are more tips on working from home, especially if you or your team is new to it!