99% of people prefer to work remotely, at least part-time. Providing that possibility from the start of your company is possible and convenient: you have to focus on the resources, the necessary tools and be aware of the benefits that come with remote working, not only for employees but also for the company.
By Silvina Moschini, President and Founder of TransparentBusiness
They say that what begins as temporary ends up becoming permanent. According to Deloitte, 74% of CEOs of companies that adopted remote work due to the pandemic expect to continue operating like this even when we have returned to normality.
What was initially projected as a temporary solution to respect sanitary restrictions without affecting productivity has become the best way to work. Remote work beats the office model in financial terms, but also in performance. People save on rent, infrastructure, and transportation costs, positively impacting the environment due to reduced gas emissions and air pollution. And it is how Millennials and Generation Z choose to work because of the flexibility, even if they are employed full time.
If there is a time to create the remote enterprise of the future, that time is now. It is the most strategic and scalable decision and the one preferred by workers who prioritize flexibility. It is estimated that by 2025, 75% of the global workforce will be represented by Millennials, and for them, the remote company is no longer a plan B: it is the way to have a balanced life between work, family, friends, and travel.
Remote work is the win-win option. An employer saves an average of $11k per year (per part-time remote worker per year), and businesses can increase their productivity 15% to 40% by tracking every billable minute. For employees, working remotely full-time gives them the opportunity to move wherever they want. At this historic crossroad, technology allows us to focus on what we all gain from this change and not on what we leave behind.
Trust is key to remote working
Technology is the driving force behind any company that claims to be 100% remote. Specifically, I am referring to the platforms that allow the verification and good management of the equipment. Because transparency and trust in systems can increase employee productivity levels as long as the objectives to be met are clear to everyone from the beginning. Those companies that have their tasks organized and structured make faster and better decisions. On the other hand, data management is a crucial activity that allows us to have an optimal and efficient knowledge of the business to be able to plan correctly.
Setting up a 100% remote company does not mean connecting a few computers at the same time in different parts of the world. So that the model does not fail, it is important to provide employees with the necessary tools so that they can have a satisfactory work experience, live the company culture, and feel that they are part of it. It is important that leaders prioritize cybersecurity and invest in implementing the correct protocols. 99% of remote workers consider some training in the safe handling of information related to telework useful and value the protection of their tasks.
In second place are the processes, an element challenged by distance and that is crucial to be able to sustain remote work in the long term. These processes are the matrix of good teams because they reflect the clarity of roles and allow increased productivity.
A remote company is a benefit in itself
Post-COVID-19 life allowed us to slow down, rethink, shuffle and give again. This new reality calls us to actively participate in the creation of a more equitable world and remote work is the perfect shortcut.
Because not being present opens the doors to diversity. Remote work is an option for everyone, regardless of gender, accessibility or age. It allows insertion and reintegration into the labor market and encourages and generates more and better development opportunities.
And last but not least, I want to mention the enormous power of reach that remote work has. With the new normal, we learned that not only can we create more agile, scalable, and cost-effective companies, but also more inclusive companies. Remote work opens up a world of opportunity for companies, which can go out and find and hire the best available talent wherever they are. And above all, retain it, because employees declare a greater commitment to their work (yes, I wrote greater) when they are offered the possibility of working remotely.
