In an ever-evolving business landscape, remote work is emerging as the new normal — a shift that brings a plethora of benefits for business owners. For more on the imperative for flexible work and how organizations can respond, please see McKinsey.com/featured-insights/ Future-of-the-workplace. This article is based on a 25-minute, online-only Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of McKinsey between March 15 and April 18, 2022. A sample of 25,062 adults aged 18 and older from the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii was interviewed online in English and Spanish. To better reflect the population of the United States as a whole, post hoc weights were made to the population characteristics on gender, age, race/ethnicity, education, region, and metropolitan status.
Working remotely also requires a certain level of autonomy and self-discipline. As a result, they stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices, enhancing their value to their employers. People who work virtually can attend virtual conferences, webinars, and training sessions without needing to travel or take time off work. That’s time they can spend doing other things, like working, reading, or spending time with their families. They can also take breaks to recharge or attend to personal matters without worrying about disturbing colleagues or being judged.
New work: Why remote is here to stay
The reality is that some protections apply only to those residing in California. They can take breaks to exercise, prepare healthy meals, or practice mindfulness. This can reduce stress levels, improve sleep quality, and improve overall health. Compared with their office counterparts, teleworkers are 35-40% more productive and have measured a 4.4% increase in output.
Employees who are happy and satisfied with their jobs are also less likely to take time off sick. An analysis of employee data conducted by the Fiduciary Group in 2020 confirmed this. Loyalty also means employee retention, as staff won’t look for another job if they’re happy where they are. This is a cost saving for the company as it avoids new hires and it also retains how companies benefit when employees work remotely skills. About 200 Howard Brown Health workers walked off the job at three clinics Tuesday to kick off a two-day strike seeking better pay and working conditions. This role will collaborate in creating our brand voice and will be a critical team member in helping Meeting Tomorrow to create and drive our content engine with both written and interactive content.
More effective communication
Even within a specific role, some duties may be well suited to teleworking, while others are better performed in person. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, it also began the necessity for remote work. Since then, the popularity of remote work has remained steady, despite some shifts and changes as employers encourage workers to return to the office. How can organizations replace the collaboration that happens when people work together in the office? New tools, such virtual whiteboards, as well as new meeting formats, such as idea jams, can set the stage for recapturing creative collaboration.
When you rely on local applicants to fill roles in your organization, you limit your talent pool to people who live in or are willing to move to a single city or country. If you can’t find someone with the skills or expertise you need within your region, there’s no limit to where you can search next. Being able to create a comfortable home office is an excellent benefit of remote work.
Healthier Lifestyle Choices
Whether you simply want a more ergonomic chair or you have health issues that require specialized office equipment, you can set up your home office and make it whatever you want. The 3.9 million employees who worked from home at least half time before the pandemic reduced greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of taking more than 600,000 cars off the road for an entire year. A whopping 7.8 billion vehicle miles aren’t traveled each year for those who work at least part-time from home, 3 million tons of greenhouse gases (GHG) are avoided, and oil savings reach $980 million. Gas, car maintenance, transportation, parking fees, a professional wardrobe, lunches bought out, and more can all be reduced or eliminated from your spending entirely.
