World events have spawned major changes in how and where people work. Many companies have recently made the change to have most, if not all, of their employees, work from home. Most thought this would be a temporary change, but now that it’s done, employers and employees alike want it to stay that way.
Employers have found that having remote workers has many benefits including a significant cut in costs and workers who are more productive than ever before. With employees, working from home has become so popular, that a recent study showed that over a third of all employees in the U.S. would actually change jobs for the opportunity to work remotely.
Wondering if remote work is something you should seek out? Here are some of the top benefits that employees enjoy when engaged in remote work.
A Mobile Office
Even though remote jobs are often referred to as work-from-home, the fact is that you can actually work from anywhere. So, sure, you should craft a great home office for yourself, but you can also work from the pickup line at your child’s school or be surrounded by nature at your local park. You can even work while lounging poolside on that Western Caribbean cruise that you and your partner have been dreaming about for years.
On a larger scale, working from home can mean that you no longer need to choose your housing in order to be closer to the office. Homes in the suburbs, the country, or even in another state are now an option.
Improved Work-Life Balance
Everyone needs to earn a good living, and many have had to make their work the central component of their life to succeed. Work schedule had to take precedence over everything, even family and sometimes health. The balance of work and life has been tipped toward work for a very long time in America. But that is changing.
Remote jobs allow much greater flexibility for workers so that they can begin to move toward a real and sustainable balance between their work and the rest of their life. Most remote jobs include at least some scheduling flexibility, and some give complete time freedom. This means that you never have to miss a recital, that you never have to worry about getting fired when you call off work because a child is sick and that you can join that mid-afternoon yoga class you’ve always wanted to attend. The possibilities are endless. You can begin to feel that work is an important part of your life, but it no longer has to be your whole life.
Reduced Costs
Employers love having remote workers because they are beginning to see how much money their company can. But employees are seeing significant savings as well.
Working from home eliminates your daily commute. Think about that. Most workers commute for about 30 minutes one way. This translates to over $4,000 a year in gas costs alone. Not to mention reduced wear and tear on your vehicle which can lead to a great deal of savings.
You could be able to save on childcare costs as well. If your job allows for flexible hours, you can get some work done before the kids get up and after they go to bed. This means you could reduce the hours they spend in childcare from nine hours to a max of four or five.
Think about how much you spend on a professional wardrobe for work. That is an expense that will become completely obsolete now. What about food costs? Add up the average amount that you spend picking up coffee on the way to work and buying lunch while you’re there. When all is said and done, working from home can be like getting a raise of as much as $6,000 a year without ever having to negotiate for it.
Working from home has so many potential benefits, that it is worth considering whether it should become a criterion in your next job search. If you really love your current job, schedule a meeting with the boss to discuss the possibility of transitioning it to a remote position.
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