Most employees want a hybrid model with workdays in the office as well as workdays in the home office [9]. Reasons for this from the employee perspective include, e.g., increased subjectively perceived productivity, higher job satisfaction [9], higher autonomy, and better work-life balance (see e.g., [10]). From the perspective of occupational health, it is also important to assess the potential health effects of WFH. The following section summarizes empirical findings on possible health effects of WFH.

• However, it is also important to address the psychological and social challenges of remote working, such as loneliness and blurred lines between a person’s job and home life.
• Knowing the latest trends and data within the healthcare space is critical to preparing a comprehensive benefits strategy.
• A panel company conducted a Germany-wide online survey at two measurement points (t1 July–August 2020, t2 November–December 2020).
• For people in crowded areas where many others also work from home — such as apartment complexes and densely packed cities — slow speeds, buffering, and poor audio and video connections are common.

“Each law can contain slightly different requirements, making it almost impossible for employers to adopt a one-size-fits-all policy without significantly increasing their paid-leave costs due to the breadth that would be required.” Remote workers are more mobile and may not always inform the employer about changes to their living arrangements. At least half of employers responding to remote work surveys report that working from home reduces employee absenteeism. When you trust your employees to shift their work schedules to accommodate their needs, they’re able to get tasks done more efficiently. If you work at a computer all day, you often sit in your desk chair for hours without getting up.

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For example, the ability to work from home allowed caretakers to fulfill their professional responsibilities while also managing personal obligations. Remote work also did a lot for promoting inclusivity and supporting individuals with disabilities. Having worked from home over the past year, we have personally experienced many of the benefits outlined in this paper.

Furthermore, working from home increases productivity (Gajendran & Harrison, 2007; Gajendran et al., 2015; Martin & MacDonnell, 2012). Bloom (2014) reported that employees working from home answered 13.5% more phone calls than those who were in the office, demonstrating higher productivity in a measurable way. (Bloom and colleagues replicated this finding in 2015.) More recently, Choudhury and colleagues (2021) showed a 4% increase in productivity among U.S. Barrero and colleagues (2020b) estimated that the pandemic significantly reduced U.S. commuting times and that at least one-third of this saved time has been allocated to work-related tasks.

You can choose where to live because you’re not tied to a city or region.

In addition to personal health and well-being, coworker and manager relationships can be more positive without the distractions and politics that come along with an in-office job. A reported 72% of employers say remote work has a high impact on employee retention—plainly put, employees are sticking with their employer when they have remote work options. It also gives workers the flexibility to get to doctor’s and other healthcare appointments when needed.

With job postings that are updated daily across more than 50 career categories, you can connect with employers that understand the value and importance of remote work. Once you’ve found a strong career fit, you can select from hundreds of resume examples created https://remotemode.net/blog/how-remote-work-can-benefit-employees-and-companies/ by Certified Professional Resume Writers to get the ball rolling on your job applications. Though the pandemic may have been the catalyst for remote work for many millions of employees around the world, it’s far from the only reason to work from home.

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Your daily commute can compound or increase your stress levels as you deal with factors beyond your control, such as rude passengers, vehicle breakdowns, and traffic jams. A longer commute can also reduce job satisfaction and worsen your mental health. Generally speaking, remote employees report a much higher degree of job satisfaction than those who work in a central office space. That morale boost leads to more employee engagement, which is a proven way to keep experienced employees happy, motivated and loyal. Satisfied employees tend not to jump ship to other opportunities as frequently.

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs proposed that humans must meet certain physiological needs (including sleep) before they will be motivated to seek higher-order needs (Maslow, 1943). A key advantage of remote work is the ability to sleep in, thus allocating more time to rest and recuperate. When we no longer have to commute, we can benefit from additional sleep, which can improve well-being (Hirshkowitz et al., 2015). A number of possibilities exist as to why telecommuting improves job satisfaction, but control and autonomy seem to be central. There’s never been a better time to pursue a career in a remote-friendly industry. So, if you’re feeling stuck in your current job or looking for a new challenge, now is the time to consider a career move.

Strategies for Managing Workplace Conflict: A Guide for HR

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to engage in intense sports to reap the benefits of physical activity. It’s recommended that adults accumulate https://remotemode.net/ at least 150 minutes of weekly exercise. A quick 10-minute walk every day adds up to over half of your weekly activity recommendations.