This guide outlines nine strategic benefits of integrating remote workers, detailing how a distributed workforce drives cost savings, expands talent pool access, and significantly improves retention rates.
The pandemic gave millions of workers around the world a crash course in remote work. The benefits of going remote: no commute, more time with family, and flexible schedules are all things that employees are reluctant to give up: nearly 60% of US employees who started working from home during the pandemic would prefer to permanently continue working remotely.
How can companies respond to these changing preferences long-term? Is remote work beneficial for companies as well? In fact, there is much to gain for employers who fully embrace the remote work revolution. From happier employees to reduced expenses to being more competitive in attracting top talent, even the most hesitant organizations can find something to love about making a permanent transition to remote or hybrid work options for their workforce.
Download our whitepaper, Managing Your Virtual Workforce, to learn more about successfully making the remote transition.
Here are our nine favorite employer benefits to remote work that your clients are sure to love as you help them develop their own distributed workforce strategy.
1. Access to a Vast, Diverse Talent Pool
Having a remote or hybrid work policy means you can attract better talent or seek talent from anywhere in the world. Geographical constraints are no longer an issue in hiring, giving organizations a great advantage in attracting highly qualified candidates. An overwhelming number of candidates now intentionally seek out work opportunities that offer remote work options. A recent study revealed that 85% of workers are interested in working remotely. Employers that respond to this interest can dramatically expand and diversify their pool of applicants.
2. Significant Gains in Productivity
With remote work, employees can avoid many distractions like unproductive meetings, interruptions, and other disturbances that are inevitable in a bustling office. Studies consistently show that remote workers are more focused and motivated. The shift to remote work is expected to persist post-pandemic and may result in a 5% productivity boost in the US economy. Furthermore, some companies have reported that remote employees are productive for up to 30 more minutes daily compared to their in-office counterparts.
3. Substantial Reduction in Operating Expenses
Many companies that allow remote work can significantly reduce expenses on office space, utilities, parking allowance costs, and office supplies. This can offer businesses more flexibility and resiliency, not to mention greater opportunities to be more creative with ways to invest in their workforce. Companies that allowed employees to work remotely even just half of the time could save as much as $11,000 to $37,000 annually per worker by reducing real estate and associated costs.
4. Measurable Contribution to Sustainability Goals
Going remote is one of the most effective ways for organizations to reduce emissions and achieve impactful sustainability goals. Commuting is one of the biggest sources of emissions globally. If everyone who could work remotely did so just half the time, the US could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 54 million tons per year. By embracing a distributed workforce, businesses can reduce their office space needs, real estate expenses, and carbon footprint simultaneously, strengthening their green credentials with environmentally conscious customers.
5. Stronger Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Remote work enables companies to meaningfully advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives by hiring people from different socioeconomic, geographic, and cultural backgrounds. It creates access to candidates who may struggle with traditional office attendance, like individuals with disabilities or full-time caregivers. A distributed workforce demonstrates a commitment to equity, allowing your organization to benefit from a broader range of perspectives and skills.
6. Enhanced Operational Resilience and Business Continuity
The pandemic has demonstrated the importance of expecting the unexpected. Implementing permanent remote work or hybrid office arrangements helps businesses efficiently adapt in the event of a natural disaster, local or national emergency, public health crises, or even a local power outage. When remote work processes and technology are already in place, staff can easily continue their work without disruption, ensuring business continuity.
7. Improved Employee Health, Retention, and Reduced Absenteeism
Employees who are happy and healthy are more likely to stay, saving your company the high cost of turnover (which can be $10,000 to $30,000 per long-term employee). Remote workers report being less stressed due to the elimination of the commute and having more flexibility to manage their personal well-being. This satisfaction translates directly to lower employee turnover and fewer sick days or absences, ensuring your clients retain their best talent longer.
8. High Availability and Global Service Coverage
When a workforce is distributed across multiple time zones, your clients benefit from near 24/7 coverage and high availability. This flexibility allows companies to provide around-the-clock customer service or simply ensures that high-priority tasks can be managed by team members in different regions, effectively extending the workday. A remote model means there is virtually always someone “at the office” to ensure continuous operations.
9. Catalyst for Technology Adoption and Innovation
Embracing a remote model often requires investing in and becoming an expert at digital collaboration, security, and communication tools. This forced adoption of cutting-edge technology prevents organizational stagnation and builds an agile work model. By leveraging the best software and hardware to support their distributed teams, businesses gain the flexibility to explore new tools and ideas faster, fostering a culture of continuous innovation.
The remote work revolution is here, and organizations that fully embrace it can reap all of these benefits and more. Are you looking for more ways to help your clients permanently implement a virtual workforce in their talent recruitment strategy? Gain immediate access to the global infrastructure and compliance expertise required to realize all nine benefits of remote work—without the legal risk.
We empower your clients to hire, manage, and pay any worker, anywhere in the world, compliantly and efficiently. Contact People2.0 today.
