In recent years, remote working has made the leap from a necessity due to global developments to a benefit that job seekers actively search for. Today, many employees enjoy working remotely, leading more businesses to change their work model for the sake of both the workforce and the company itself.
While bigger companies are exploring the benefits of a distributed team, there are plenty of compelling reasons that might send a smaller business down the remote route. But what exactly is remote work, and how can it benefit your business?
A Definition of Remote Work
What came into being when businesses were compelled to incorporate remote working was a set-up that most employees have decided they quite like.
Coupled with this was a growing understanding that a business didn’t always need to have its employees in the office. For example, a warehouse with an online inventory management system doesn’t require continuous onsite supervision.
Since remote work has taken off, employees often cite benefits such as a better work-life balance (we’ll look into these in more detail below). That said, it’s important to understand what set-up works best for your business and your employees.
Keep in mind that remote working doesn’t necessarily mean that the entire workforce bashes away on a laptop in a spare bedroom for the rest of their career. An increasing number of businesses are working on a hybrid model, with one day per week spent in the office.
An increasing number of businesses are working on a hybrid model, with one day per week spent in the office. Furthermore, coworking space software can be a valuable tool for remote workers who want to work in a shared office environment but still maintain the flexibility of working from home.
A fully remote structure doesn’t mean a lack of collaboration, either. That said, it’s essential to invest in a few key tools such as web conference facilities that will allow your remote employees to stay connected, collaborate on projects, and feel like part of a team. With that in mind, here are seven reasons your business should consider remote work.
Why Should a Small Business Incorporate Remote Work?
1. Lower costs
Cost is always a key consideration for any business, but it’s especially crucial for a smaller outfit. When cash cushions are proportionately lower, a small business has to mind every cent.
Office rental doesn’t come cheap, especially in the more expensive parts of the world. So, compared to the skyrocketing annual fees you may face, the amount you need to spend to get a small remote team up and running is relatively minuscule.
Should you decide to maintain an office to facilitate hybrid working, you can shrink the size of the space considerably, as only some people need to be in at the same time.
Other cost savings include ergonomic equipment, copiers, coffee machines, microwaves, washroom accouterments, and so on.
2. Better reach
By offering a remote set-up, you create a geographically diverse workforce, giving your business better reach. Being in multiple locations offers you more opportunities in expanding your operations.
What’s more, it can be significant when it comes to spanning time zones so that you have a bigger business window in which customers can get in touch with your organization. In this way, a smaller business can punch way above its weight.
3. More eco-friendly
Today, many businesses strive to demonstrate to customers their eagerness to embrace the new necessities of eco-thinking. One of the most emphatic means of signaling your green credentials is showing how your business is taking vehicles off the road.
A remote workforce means no daily office grind, no commute. Smaller businesses can deploy this approach in minimal time, taking their entire workforce off the road in short order.
4. Wider talent pool
Quite often, a smaller business will require staff to fill multiple roles. This is because there are fewer staff on the payroll, but a similar amount of duties still need to be completed. For instance, email marketing for small businesses might be performed by the same person who’s responsible for IT or even by the owner themself.
When it comes to filling these tricky roles, it helps if there’s a good pool from which to draw the requisite talent. As we’ve seen, remote roles are popular, so a remote vacancy will attract a greater range of applicants. By casting your net wider, you are more likely to find a stronger candidate for the role and also have the opportunity to increase diversity in the workplace.
Effective talent management is crucial to the success of a remote work set-up, as it ensures that the right employees are in the right roles and are able to perform to the best of their ability.
5. Fewer absences
When you have a small payroll, each staff absence is felt more acutely. The good news about remote working is that absenteeism tends to be lower. This is most likely down to it being more convenient for an unwell person to pop into the next room and log on than it is for them to fight their way through the morning commute.
Another hugely important factor here is that if employees aren’t coming into a central office, there’s much less chance of a runaway infection laying waste to your staff.
6. More family-friendly
With employees often citing the need for a better work-life balance, remote working allows people to be more focused on their families, while still being dedicated to their work. This is because huge amounts of the day aren’t being swallowed up by the trudge to and from work.
To return to that warehouse example, if there is a strong inventory forecasting formula in place that can be accessed remotely, then employees don’t need to be in situ in order to assess need.
The extra free time released can be lavished on the family. The business will then benefit from happier employees and higher employee retention. A smaller business will be especially thankful for the consequent reduction in recruitment costs.
7. More employee ownership
When a business, whatever its size, gives its employees a degree of trust, this can result in huge benefits in terms of morale, motivation, and productivity. There’s nothing more dispiriting than being ordered to complete a task over which you have no control or discretion.
On the other hand, an employee who is given a little leeway in how they conduct their day – for instance, an early bird that likes to start at 4 am – will work to their best potential.
However, some employees will always prefer the camaraderie of the office environment, so care should be taken to protect staff health and wellbeing, with frequent check-ins, for instance.
Security and password managers
Password management and security are essential for ensuring the safety and confidentiality of sensitive information. Secure password management is an important aspect of remote work. To ensure the safety and confidentiality of sensitive business information, it’s essential for employees to practice good password hygiene, such as using unique and strong passwords and regularly changing them. This can be achieved through the use of password managers or other security tools. It would be appropriate to add this sentence to the section discussing the importance of investing in key tools for remote work, such as web conference facilities.
Remote Control
Going remote gives your business the power to get the most out of your staff. A small business can especially benefit from the resulting staff positivity as well as enjoying a reduced cost than the conventional office approach. Your small team will thank you for the consideration you’re showing them and will outperform many larger teams as a result.
