Guest blog from Terkel.io
From future-proofing your business to producing fewer overhead expenses, here are eight responses to the question, “What are some important reasons companies should consider more remote team members in 2023?”
- Future-Proof Your Company
- Boost Growth With Innovative Ideas
- Open Up a Bigger Pool of Candidates
- Expand the Company’s Availability
- Increase Employee Satisfaction
- Raise Retention Rates
- Support Going Green
- Reduce Overhead Expenses
Future-Proof Your Company
Having a robust remote workforce can help your business through any situation that may impede employees from getting into the office for a period of time. While that may have seemed unlikely in the more distant past, the pandemic has reminded many businesses that it’s important to have a backup plan that can allow them to at least stay partially operational in case of a shutdown, for whatever reason.
Having more remote workers will also reward companies to bolster their working potential. In this way, even if it never happens, your workforce will be entirely equipped to handle out-of-the-office situations, or at least able to quickly switch over to a work-from-home format.
Even if your business isn’t a fan of remote work, it’s wise to consider empowering your company to transition if need be. Future-proofing your business’s ability to operate should always be a priority.
Max Schwartzapfel, CMO, Schwartzapfel Lawyers
Boost Growth with Innovative Ideas
Members of a remote team have the advantage of working in a diverse environment. As a result, the chances of these workers bringing innovative ideas to the table are much higher than those working in an in-office environment.
The reasons are many — from the even pace at which remote employees work to the advantage of working in a more relaxed manner that promotes clarity of thought.
For some, it is just the freedom to think in a new direction without the influence of others. But every reason enables remote employees to think differently and conjure innovative ideas to boost productivity and growth.
Kris Harris, Owner, Nootka Saunas
Open Up a Bigger Pool of Candidates
Studies show that creating remote teams leads to better productivity. It also improves employee happiness, which leads to a decrease in turnover. While these are interesting enough reasons for companies to open up more jobs to remote work, it gets even better.
By investing in remote work, companies can improve their bottom line by attracting more talented employees. Think about it: if you only hire local employees, that’s a fraction of the total candidate market.
By only hiring locally, you’re cutting yourself off from some of the best talent available. But if you open up your positions to remote employees, you can hire anyone on a national or even international scale (barring some industry restrictions, of course). It’s one way smart companies can achieve an unfair advantage over their competition.
Justin Vajko, Principal & Chief Strategy Guy, Dialog
Expand the Company’s Availability
One benefit of incorporating remote team members into a team is it provides the opportunity to expand availability. When hiring remote employees, companies are not limited to geographical location, this allows companies to hire for many locations and time zones.
Hiring remote team members in other time zones provides the opportunity for the company to practically reach other markets and clients while still having overlap for teams and team members to collaborate.
Remote team members are a great way to expand a company’s availability by having team members available no matter the time or location.
Bryor Mosley, Career Coach, Southern New Hampshire University
Increase Employee Satisfaction
It’s become clearer over time that employees who can work remotely prefer to, hands down. It not only helps them maintain a better work-life balance, but also remain more productive and in control of their time.
Most employees enjoy the freedom that comes from working remotely because it also opens up doors for travel and exploration, while they continue to excel at their roles. If internal communication and self-motivation are highlighted, there’s no doubt that employees find many advantages to working remotely and thus feel a higher satisfaction within their job.
Asma Hafejee, Senior Marketing Executive, CMR Surgical
Raise Retention Rates
In today’s post-Covid world, team members know what they want at work. Some prefer to go back into an office, but the vast majority of people working want to do their job remotely.
If a company can make it work — such as most tech companies — team members will appreciate the flexibility and the opportunity to save money and time. Therefore, there’s more reason to stay put and retention numbers can’t help but improve.
Kelli Anderson, Career Coach, Resume Seed
Support Going Green
I would say that governments and communities are pushing firms to embrace greener practices in their organizational activities, which have increased environmental awareness today. Another justification for hiring remote workers is this.
You will have a lesser carbon footprint with almost no commuting, and working remotely greatly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. This is because by removing cars from the road and lowering the overall use of harmful chemicals, gas, and oil products, you protect the environment from air pollutants.
What could possibly be better than dedicating your company to environmental protection and fulfilling your CSR? As you adjust to the new normal, these actions will boost your reputation and make your business well-known.
Salim Benadel, Director, Storm Internet
Reduce Overhead Expenses
One of the largest costs that businesses incur is overhead. Online businesses with remote teams can erase this expense. Remote team members are often more productive, willing to work non-traditional hours, and are happier overall.
We can easily connect remote teams through apps and websites like Slack, Discord, and Monday.com. These tools have eliminated the need for a traditional office setup.
There are a few downsides to hiring remote workers, however. Some might not work within their designated hours, or they might be difficult to get a hold of. However, if you vet your team members well, you’ll be able to build a stellar remote team.
Gary Paull Jr., CEO, Gauss
Terkel creates community-driven content featuring expert insights. Sign up at terkel.io to answer questions and get published.
