What’s so great about working from home?

Let’s face it - Flexible work isn’t for everyone. Facilitating remote work was a necessity created by the pandemic, yet months after the worst of it has passed and the world is back to a new “normal”, we’re still seeing a general shift and preference to the work from home “meta”.

What’s Changed?

Traditional workspaces seem almost “archaic” in nature when compared to the flexibility offered by a lot of companies in recent times. Work life balance is a topic that is commonly discussed between employees and employers alike, but just like anything else, change takes time and brings with it, its own challenges and adjustments.

We’ve addressed the rapidly growing technology industry in a previous article, and its impact on our day to day lives. The pandemic brought along with it, rapid advancements in communication technology and advancements in collaboration tools as well as how we use them, I.E - Zoom.

Employees for the most part, are able to work efficiently and seamlessly without the need to be in the office full-time. A majority of workers enjoy this dynamic as it gives them more time to spend with their family and friends, as it eliminates the commute to work, which is a massive time sink for most living in big cities due to traffic and other travel restrictions such as train timetables or bus schedules. 

The Benefits?

Working from home shouldn’t compromise productivity or the work’s integrity. Not all industries benefit or are suitable for a remote working environment. An organisation should take it upon themselves to discern what the varying needs of their day-to-day activities are and work together with management and the workforce to determine which sectors of the business could benefit from remote working. A recent study done by the University of Melbourne shows that 70% of Australians who were working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic would prefer to continue that way moving forward. 

Work flexibility is slowly becoming a deciding factor when choosing a job. A workplace survey done by Deloitte highlights that most employees are looking to leadership to create more flexible work environments, driving better mental health and work life balance.

Improved Efficiency

• Travel time cut-down
• Introduction of new software and technology to accommodate the environment, resulting in upskilling and employee growth
• Less sick days - Employees are still likely to “check-in” if they are feeling a bit under the weather
• Avenues of communication open up that were otherwise not looked at. Virtual meetings include a wider audience more frequently due to logistics being non-existent

Where do we go from here?

The “standard” office space is rapidly changing - what used to be widely accepted and the “norm” a few years ago is now considered “archaic” and “rigid”. Business owners should actively reconsider their workforce culture and strive to adapt to the new “norms”.

There are a lot more benefits than downsides to remote working and embracing the new wave can only stand to improve your business’ output.

Remote working fosters an environment where “everyone is in this together”, promoting engagement and eventually leading to greater job satisfaction.

Final Recommendations

If your business is looking to expand into a more flexible environment with remote working and you are unsure of where to begin - Get in touch with us today and we may be  able to help run through the various software implementations you can start with to tackle any challenges you could face when making the transition. Our first consultation is always free, we’re in this business to help people, so don’t hesitate! Shoot us an email at info@localteam.com.au or call us on (07) 4599 7300 Mon-Fri :9am-4pm