While the COVID-19 pandemic led to widespread disruption for multiple industries, the remote and hybrid work culture it necessitated could be here to stay. Whereas the idea of a remote working model may have seemed unrealistic or unfeasible for many businesses just 3 years ago, the new working culture has opened up countless opportunities for companies in the UK- but what are the main benefits of remote working for businesses?
How remote working can benefit organisations?
A wider pool of talent
Because remote workers are able to apply for jobs beyond their immediate location (and even small businesses are able to hire employees from anywhere in the country), the market has been opened up significantly.
Businesses can now access a wider pool of skilled employees irrespective of where they live, which means it’s easier to find the right people for new job openings. It’s also worth noting that many employees actually perform better when working remotely – this has been put down to a more quiet, private and self-made working environment with less distractions than a typical office.
Rent
Whereas business rent was previously a major business expense for many companies (especially those located in offices and working with large teams), the new remote working culture has negated the need for rent in many cases.
Because many businesses no longer need to rent out large physical spaces to accommodate their whole workforce, substantial funds previously spent on renting a site can now be directed elsewhere in the business. By making the switch to a remote working model, employees have also been able to make significant savings in commuting, childcare and food costs.
Geography
Because many workers who previously commuted into cities and town centres can now work from their homes, it’s easier for employees to take jobs anywhere in the country or indeed the world. For example, if you live up north, you now stand a better chance of securing a London role with better pay, and vice versa.
This has enabled many families to move away from the capital to cheaper and more desirable locations in the country without losing (and in fact gaining) accessibility to work – depending on their new location, employees should still be able to easily travel into London by train for meetings and hybrid working arrangements.
Work-life balance
One of the main benefits of remote and hybrid working is that employees are often able to strike a better work-life balance which helps in work efficiency. By cutting out often intensive commutes to the office, workers could automatically gain extra hours to spend with their loved ones and enjoy out-of-work activities – this has had a huge beneficial effect on worker morale and fulfilment, which in turn has boosted retention figures and, in many cases, employee well-being. The ability to arrange your own working schedule in an autonomous way has improved engagement and enabled employees to enjoy more freedom in their working day.