Remote work offers many advantages, but also presents some challenges. That is why it is essential to understand how to make remote work a success for both your company and employees.
To foster employee retention and ensure quality work is accomplished, employers must offer flexibility to their staff and foster trust. Doing this will encourage them to do their best work and remain loyal for extended periods of time.
Flexibility
Remote work offers employees the flexibility to set their own working hours and location, eliminating the need to commute. It also promotes a healthier work-life balance with more time for family, friends, and personal pursuits.
Flexibility does, however, come with its drawbacks. Remote workers often become tempted to work longer than necessary and it’s not uncommon for them to feel burnout from overwork when doing so.
Furthermore, it can be challenging for some individuals to distinguish work from home, meaning they may need to create a separation between their workspace and private life. This may prove challenging if they’re used to checking email and Slack messages when not at the office.
Team communication must remain fluid and consistent across different platforms in order to succeed. Tools like Slack, Zoom, and Google Hangouts make this possible by providing team members with a quick way to contact each other.
Earning Potential
The advantages of remote work vary depending on the industry and job role within an organization, but many employees appreciate its flexibility. It allows them to forgo long commutes and fit their work around important commitments such as childcare.
Therefore, workers are saving money on their commutes and office expenses. Furthermore, they have more control over their schedules, leading to improved sleep patterns and overall well-being.
According to economists Jose Maria Barrero, Nicholas Bloom, Steven J. Davis, Brent H. Meyer and Emil Mihaylov’s paper, working remotely actually slows wage growth.
This tradeoff may be advantageous for business leaders, as it prevents wages from increasing too rapidly and puts additional pressure on businesses to pass along higher costs to customers.
However, some businesses hesitate to offer fully remote jobs due to concerns that it will increase costs. This is often true of hybrid positions that combine some remote and on-site elements. On average, hybrid workers earn more than those who never work from home or fully remote employees when all job titles and other compensable factors are taken into account.
Work-Life Balance
A healthy work-life balance is critical for employee wellbeing. It keeps workers motivated, productive and healthy.
A lack of work-life balance can lead to stress, lack of family time and health problems; it may even lead to burnout.
Employers must understand their employees’ goals in order to provide flexible work options that meet those needs.
For example, some employees might prefer a set schedule while others desire the freedom to alter their daily routine.
Implementing effective work-life balance strategies will boost employee motivation and help your company meet its targets. It also attracts top talent, increasing productivity levels.
Communication
Communication is essential when working remotely. Even though you may be miles apart, it’s still essential to stay in contact with your manager and feel like a valuable member of the team. Showing that you’re committed to the company’s success by checking in regularly and staying connected.
Synchronous communication is vital for remote employees, as it enables them to get quick answers to questions and issues without waiting. This is especially true during team meetings or urgent discussions.
Synchronous communication, however, is also required for general conversations. It’s best to utilize asynchronous communication for day-to-day work and only switch over to synchronous when absolutely necessary.
Additionally, it’s essential to create norms for digital communications. This could include creating acronyms like “Four Hour Response” or “No Need to Respond.” Providing employees with guidelines on communication styles like preferred response times, writing styles, and tone of voice is beneficial as well.