As a business owner, you have likely had to reposition many of your policies and operational strategies in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Part of this may have included switching some (or all) of your employees to a remote work platform. If this was hastily done, there may have been hiccups and bumps, but, there are many benefits to hiring and maintaining a remote workforce for both you and your employees.
The perks for you
Embracing the idea of remote/flexible staff is one of the best ways to have access to a much broader pool of talent. For example, you may need to employ a technology expert and, depending on where your business is located, these may be few and far between. Having someone who can log in from anywhere means that you are not confined to the available worker pool within a commute of your business. This and other digital business strategies means that you can grow with the times instead of letting the world outgrow you.
Something else to consider is that when you opt for virtual assistance, which is available via Global Strategic Business Process Solutions, you can easily install around-the-clock administrative and customer support. This is ideal for your customers, particularly if you cater to a global audience. It means that no one ever has to wait for an answer to important questions.
Forbes also notes that workers tend to be more productive than their in-office cohorts. Not only do they output more, but the work provided is also higher quality. Employees are more engaged and have fewer distractions keeping them from work. In fact, those employees who can work from anywhere are absent more than 40% less than those expected to punch a time clock in person.
If none of these are enough to convince you that allowing your employees to work from home exclusively is a smart choice, then the numbers should. On average, USA Today says that businesses save more than $4,000 per year per employee simply by forgoing a traditional brick-and-mortar environment.
Benefits for your employees
For many remote workers, one of the greatest perks is that they are no longer forced to fight traffic during their morning or evening commute. This can give them back one or more hours of their time every day, which will contribute significantly toward their efforts to achieve work/life balance. Further, remote employees feel more autonomous, and, because of this they may assert more ownership over their work.
Parents with young children particularly favor remote work opportunities because it allows them to continue to have a career without sacrificing their parental duties or family goals. Additionally, when their kids get sick, parents are not stressing as to who will stay home to provide care.
Where to find remote workers
Businesses who do not embrace a remote work culture may lose some of their best employees compared to those businesses that do. Aside from cost, your employees will enjoy a better quality of life, and if done correctly, that will only translate into profits for you. Whether you’ve gone remote as a knee-jerk reaction to the pandemic or are considering making this a long-term option, the benefits are the same, and the sooner you make the move, the better.
The first place you can look for workers who would like to complete their duties at home is within your current staff. Keep in mind, however, that some may not have the infrastructure in place to be able to perform off-site. They may lack, for example, a private office or live in an area where high-speed internet is not available. The nature of their role also may not lend to working from home.
You can also turn to business networking groups and online freelance job platforms. Using freelance/contract talent in the beginning is a great way to test the waters to see how well your business can adapt to a fully virtual environment. There are some downsides to this model, however, as you must worry about training, managing and retaining your employee- amongst other drawbacks.
Finally, businesses can consider hiring an outsource partner to staff the position for you. Many companies prefer this due to the training, escalation, infrastructure, and scalability. Global Strategic has been a trusted outsourcing partner for companies worldwide since 2006. We have handled all sizes and types of outsourcing tasks and can help get you started. For more information, contact us at [email protected].