Your employees should work from home, here’s why! 

You are a founder, employer, head of operations, or executive who does not subscribe to remote work. That’s fine. I’m kidding, it’s actually not! In fact, you are an employer of Gen Zs, this should be non-negotiable, frankly.

Considering many factors, especially in locations like Lagos, Nigeria, your employees not only deserve to work remotely, but it’s also a wise business decision. Some companies have recognized this and are jumping on that train.

The advent of the coronavirus lockdown brought about a disruption in workplace conventions. People could no longer show up at offices, therefore an alternative had to be sought – remote work. While remote work isn’t new, it’s something industries are fast catching up to and it’s here to stay. 

Many employers still feel skeptical about remote employment permeating their organization and their cynicism is quite understood, but remote employment is a promising work system and has been adopted by various companies and we would show you why you should too. 

Why your employees should work remotely 

1. Reduced transit time

Commuting to and from work takes up a significant amount of time. Some employees have reported spending up to 3 hours in transit daily! This is a particularly relatable experience for employees in bigger cities which are known to be crowded and plagued with traffic. Plus, being in commute for long can take a mental toll on employees. Remote employment comes to the rescue by removing the need for transport as work can now be done from home. Also, it frees up time that would have otherwise been spent on commuting to and from work. It also allows workers to commit to other things and creates a well-balanced life. More time can be spent with family, with loved ones, on hobbies and various interests.

2. Remote gives control, literally. 

When we were children, we felt constrained, we looked at adults and envied them because of one single thing that seemed to define their lives- control/freedom. While adulthood definitely has its own set of constraints (a rude awakening!), we still want that childhood dream realized, even if it’s only in part. Online employment injects some reality into your employee’s juvenile desires. Even though there are obligations and responsibilities adulthood comes with, offering a remote work experience gives room for autonomy or self-governance, it promotes flexibility and a general feeling of satisfaction with life and work.

3. Better chances of employee retention

When new recruits get on board, there is a period of adjustment where employees get familiar with job roles and are in tune with company goals. That period is associated with suboptimal performance and can stall organizational output especially when the new employee holds a vital role. When this is a frequent occurrence, it poses an expensive feat for the company and leaves money on the table. Offering remote employment can create a pleasant job experience for employees which boosts long-term stay.

4. Saves costs on office space 

With a fully remote or partially remote workforce, there is no need to acquire a large office space if you’d be acquiring any at all. In addition, significant budget cuts would occur due to the elimination of certain bills like electricity, water, cleaning services, and general maintenance of the office building. Expenses are also reduced on the part of the staff as well. Employees no longer have to spend money on things like transport, work clothes, and lunch. In both cases, money is freed up to go into other purposes. 

5. Scale up company tech

If you’re already using the internet, you might as well fully explore the benefits. Companies that allow remote work clear the path for other work technologies to come into use. Project management software, messaging apps, cyber security tools, and conference calling tools when employed can boost the overall efficiency of the company. 

6. Wider choice of staff 

To build a successful business, you need experts and high flyers who give their all into crushing company goals. The thing is, such people are scattered all over, and they may not share the same geographical location with the company. This can be limiting because you have to make do with who’s available. Allowing remote work experience broadens your horizon and gives you a wider pool of candidates to choose from. 

7. Eliminates office politics 

Even though the pay may be great, toxic office politics can quickly douse the perks of a job. Being at the receiving end of ridicule, rumors, spiteful gossip, and obscene jokes make for an unpleasant work experience that can tamper with individual job output and efficiency. Working remotely equates to less time spent communicating with colleagues, especially over things that don’t matter, and can rapidly build up into workplace vices. Think about it, it’s not particularly easy to set up a conference call to gossip or spread vitriol about a coworker. 

8. Better environment

This is a not-so-obvious benefit. Ever since the invention of modern cars and fossil fuels, the environment has suffered greatly from the impact of human activities. Depletion of the ozone layer and global warming among many others are issues we now tackle. But due to remote employment, there is a lesser need to commute. This translates to the reduction of the number of cars on the road at any given moment and this has resulted in a decrease in the number of exhaust fumes released which poses significant threats to our ecosystem. 

To conclude;

While many employers fear making provision for remote employment can cause employees to be sneaky, the reverse is actually the case. Remote work constitutes many benefits you wouldn’t want your organization to miss out on. We have many more useful tips and updates on managing your team, and you can get them when you subscribe to our newsletter here.