Years ago, telecommuting seemed like a rare privilege offered to a few, until the COVID-19 pandemic forced businesses to reevaluate how to stay afloat. What started as a Band-Aid solution evolved into a new and better way of doing business for many so much. In fact, many major companies — Disney, Amazon, Dell, Anthem Healthkeepers, J.P Morgan, among others — have gone 100% remote with much of their workforce.
Why is telecommuting such a great idea? Glad you asked.
1
When we don’t have to set an alarm for oh dark thirty, guzzle a cup of coffee and weather a traffic jam that gives our head pound before setting foot in the office, we perform better on the job. It makes sense when we’re less stressed, we’re happier to work and more refreshed; we can tackle the day’s to-do list with a healthier mindset. Satisfied employees stay on the job longer. They’re more productive during working hours. Companies who retain employees spend less money overall because they’re not constantly weathering turnover.
2
Companies are always looking for ways to reduce overhead. If your company is 100% remote, you’re not paying to rent space in a building let alone the operating costs associated with that.
3
Telecommuting offers employees flexibility and creates a healthier work-life balance. All of us have appointments and outside responsibilities that can derail a workday. When we telecommute, we can often fit the job around our schedule, logging the required hours either earlier in the day or later at night depending on what else is happening in our lives.
4
We live in a transient, military area where it’s often difficult for military spouses to find stable work. Telecommuting opens up more opportunities for that population to launch a new career, stay in a job they like regardless of geography, and advance within a company. Overall, a company’s talent pool increases when where we live doesn’t have to coincide with where we work.
5
We have the tools to telework efficiently and successfully. Today’s technology that includes Zoom, Skype, Slack and Dropbox has made communication a cinch among team members. It’s actually reduced silos and makes for less workplace drama.
6
Saving on gas money means reducing the carbon footprint — a bonus that makes a global impact. It’s no surprise that telecommuting is good for the environment.
7
Work-life balance has become increasingly important to today’s employees. Telecommuting adds hours to our day. It means more sleep. It adds up to additional family time. It means less money on lunches out and fewer dollars on pricey business attire. Telecommuting leaves more time for what we enjoy doing away from work and more money to do it.
8
Telecommuting encourages a more inclusive environment. According to a recent Forbes article on how hybrid work promotes diversity and inclusion, “Healthy remote cultures measure the value of people based on what they contribute as opposed to judging them based on where they sit.”
9
Employees value being measured on what they do rather than how they do it. Telecommuting allows for that.
10
The pandemic opened the door for telecommuting. Progressive businesses understand that there’s no turning the clock back. Of course, not everyone in every industry can telework, but making it an option or, at the very least available on a part-time basis, is simply a forward-thinking move.
BONUS!
You can earn discounts and rewards for telecommuting when you sign up for MidPenRideShare’s Agile Mile program. Click here to get started.
