There are many misconceptions out there about working from home, especially from those who have never experienced it before. Let’s debunk them once and for all.
There are so many reasons why today’s workforce opt to work remotely more than ever (we discussed how it benefits both employers and employees in this blog post).
In a survey conducted by Global Workplace Analytics, 62% of employees work remotely in one form or another, and this percentage continues to rise. Despite this, there are still many hovering on the fence about this work concept due to the many misconceptions that surround it.
It’s time to debunk these three common misconceptions and learn how workplace technology tools can help truly reap rewards when it comes to keeping your team productive, engaged and well-connected even when distributed.
When there’s a lack of visibility on the team, it’s easy to assume that they are slacking. However, according to research done by IWG, 85% of companies find that productivity actually increases because of greater work flexibility. At the same time, employees also find that working outside the office makes them more productive due to fewer distractions, less office politics and a personalized environment. In fact, a survey conducted by Owl Labs found that 71% of employees willingly decide to work remotely because it increases their productivity and focus.
To enhance these productivity levels even further, introduce a project management tool that allows full task delegation to help maintain visibility and ensure accountability on all projects. When digital workplace tools enable everyone to collaborate in real-time, operations become more streamlined and allow more tasks to get ticked off in an efficient way.
One of the factors that make employers think twice about remote work is the ease of communication between them and their remote employees when everyone is in the same location. At the same time, there are concerns about employees feeling lonely when they work from home as a result of a disconnection from their peers.
Luckily, this is where digital workplace tools come in and help you curb these problems. Instant chat messages are an excellent way to reach anyone instantly, while video calls can enhance these catch-ups and create more meaningful communication beyond texts. The right tools will also allow you to create discussion forums and hubs where staff can discuss any topics as they would when they take breaks. Not only do these digital features amplify the communication between team members while remote, but it does so in a way that can replicate on-site social experiences virtually. With the right tool in play, you can minimize the feeling of isolation significantly and, at the same time, ensure smooth information flow for efficient operations.
It’s easy to assume that, without the need to clock out and leave the office, your work day continues stretching endlessly when you work remotely. Many people end up opposing the option to work remotely for this very reason. However, in a survey done by Owl Labs in 2019, 91% said work-life balance has always been one of the top reasons why employees opt to work remotely. While this may not always be easy, it’s definitely achievable with a bit of discipline. When remote workers make it a point to stick to a schedule as they would do when working at the office, it’s possible to end work just as you would on a regular day. With the commute removed, you now have much more time on your hands for that work-life balance. Companies that introduce policies to drive this further can help employees prevent burnout and high stress levels as they work from home.
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