Last Updated on December 13, 2018 by Work In My Pajamas

It wasn’t that long ago that working from home seemed like a distant dream. Today, however, it’s how many people get the job done. As more and more millennials infiltrate the workforce, working remotely is becoming the norm. Besides a decrease in overhead expenses and flexibility in working hours, telecommuting offers a host of advantages from which employees and employers alike can benefit.

1. Decreased Overheads

With the increase of people working from home comes a rise in the use of virtual offices. Since workers don’t actually travel into the office to do their jobs, there’s no need to have a physical location. This decreases or eliminates monthly rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, cleaning personnel, etc., saving employers thousands of dollars every year.

2. Increased Productivity

Many factors influence productivity in a traditional workplace setting. Water cooler gossip, long commutes, illness, etc. all have a negative impact on productivity. Telecommuting, on the other hand, gives workers a chance to attend to mental and physical needs on their own time while still addressing the requirements of their jobs. Furthermore, by eliminating something as simple as the daily commute, productivity increases dramatically.

3. Working Remotely is Better for Your Employees’ Health and the Environment

People commute to work further than ever before. Allowing employees to work from home, even just a day or two a week, decreases a company’s carbon footprint. It’s an excellent way to go green and improve your employees’ overall well-being, too.

Studies suggest that there is a direct link between long commutes and poor health. People claim to feel more stressed because of their work commutes and have less time to lead active, healthy lifestyles.

4. People Can Work Longer

The average life expectancy increases with every passing year. As such, more and more seniors are finding it difficult to retire comfortably. By working remotely, the older generation can continue being productive well past the traditional retirement age so they can afford to live comfortably and keep their minds active.

5. Fewer Unscheduled Absences

A high number of people who call in sick really aren’t. Ill or not, unscheduled absences cost companies upwards of $300 billion a year. Businesses that allow their workers to telecommute, however, experience an average of 63 percent fewer unscheduled absences as workers tend to continue working while they are sick and flexible work hours allow them to attend appointments without missing work.

6. A Reduced Rate of Employee Turnover

Hiring and training new employees are costly. Companies that experience high employee turnover are likely spending as much as $4,000 (depending on the industry) per worker each time they onboard a new staff member.

By offering telecommuting as an option, you are providing an attractive benefit that makes workers happy. Happy employees are loyal employees, which ultimately decreases your overall cost.

Telecommuting is becoming commonplace as more and more employers offer working remotely as an option to their employees. Disrupting the traditional workplace, it has become a way of life for many, producing happier, more productive employees. If you own a business, the benefits listed above are good arguments for implanting a work-from-home program for your own employees, if at all possible.