6 Important Reasons Why Working from Home Is Improving Organisations

Author: freelance writer Lucy Wyndham

1. Seniors Are Staying in the Workforce Longer

The number of seniors 65 and older in the workforce has increased in the past couple decades according to the Pew Research Center. 34 percent of older adults would like to work from home, and 74 percent want more work flexibility. Offering remote positions allows golden-agers to delay retirement and continue working.

2. Workers Are Logging in from Home More Often

There is an increase in how long employees are spending working remotely. Between 2012 and 2016, the percentage of employees who work from home one day or less per week decreased from 34 to 25. At the same time, the proportion of those who worked four or five days per week remotely rose 7 percentage points to 31 percent.

3. The Digital Nomad Population Is Growing

In Europe and the United States, a rising proportion of young professionals have used technology to live a nomadic lifestyle and work remotely. One of the biggest drivers of workplace change is virtual teams and flexible work. 37 percent of respondents to a recent Gallup poll reported working virtually at some point.

4. Flexible Workplaces Attract Young Workers

Two out of three younger workers said the option to work from home would greatly increase their interest in an employer. The survey noted that policies that promote a fun, casual, and flexible work atmosphere have a positive impact on which employers young people chose. The opportunity to work remotely adds to how attractive a company seems and its ability to retain staff for a longer average duration.

5. Remote Employees Are Often More Engaged

According to research from the Harvard Business Review, people who work from home are more engaged with bosses and colleagues than in-house workers. The main difference here is the many tech tools at your disposal. Video conferencing has a lot to do with this.

6. At-Home Workers Are More Productive

Employees and employers alike find that working from home boosts productivity. This is because impromptu meetings, loud colleagues, and water cooler talk doesn’t slow things down. About 67 percent of supervisors say remote workers increase productivity overall.
As we learn to use technology to improve the remote workplace environment, the benefits are likely to increase. It only makes sense for organisations and individuals to take advantage of these perks.