Afni News

Benefits of Working from Home for Employers

May 29, 2024 in

Many may mistakenly believe only employees benefit from work-from-home models. However, the past several years have shown that the benefits have increased for workers, companies, and employers. So, what are the benefits of working from home for employers?

At Afni, we've long benefited from adopting remote and hybrid work models while ensuring the satisfaction of our employees. Read on as we review the advantages of working from home for employers.

Why Allow Employees to Work From Home?

Since the pandemic, work from home careers have become increasingly in demand. Employers and employees alike seek to continue to benefit from remote work policies.

At Afni, we believe our employees' satisfaction also benefits us, so remote work has long been one of our staple policies. As employers, allowing our employees to work from home increases productivity. So, how working from home benefits employers?

These are just a few of the benefits for employers. All the advantages of remote work include the following:

• Cost savings
• Increased productivity
• Access to global talent
• Environmental impact
• Employee retention and satisfaction
• Adaptability and business continuity
• Technology and communication

Benefits of Working From Home for Employers

Cost savings

Managing a company involves many expenses besides paying employees their salaries. Employers also have costs like office space, electricity, rent, maintenance of security systems, etc.

All of these fixed costs add up and significantly increase the costs employers must cover each month. However, with a work-from-home policy, such costs disappear. This allows employers and, especially, companies with a significant number of employees to incur cost savings by:

• Reduction in overhead expenses
• Savings on office space and utilities
• Lower equipment and maintenance costs

With these costs disappearing, employers are able to reallocate the available funds to other company operations or invest in technology to support a global workforce. According to one report, the average US employer could save up to $11,000 per half-time employee. For a full-time remote employee, that number could double.

Remote work is cost-effective for both employees and employers. Employees won't have to spend money on transportation, while employers won't have to support and maintain office infrastructure.

Increased productivity

Offices are places with unavoidable distractions, which often reduce productivity levels. While some employees may be capable of working through such distractions, they are a serious issue for many.

On the other hand, when working from home, most remote employees have shown the ability to outperform in-office employees. This is due to the absence of the office distractions.

According to a nine-month Stanford study, remote-working employees achieved a 13% increase in productivity. This shows that remote work's flexibility helps improve the business's success and output.

Employees can customize their work environment for greater comfort and efficiency. They may set up a quiet, concentrated workspace free from meetings, office noise, and other distractions. This allows remote workers to concentrate on their work and finish it faster.

Access to global talent

Employers may recruit talent from anywhere on the globe and attract remote workers. Remote work eliminates geographical constraints, so businesses can gain access to global talent instead of only hiring locally.

Employers can have access to a varied range of expertise and backgrounds. Using the global labor pool, those can offer a fresh perspective and approach to day-to-day operations at work.

Employers looking for industry-specific knowledge may find great value in the global talent pool. They can bring excellent employees into the company who are on the other side of the globe by expanding their talent pool to include virtual workers.

This implies that companies can select the most qualified applicant for a position based on their experience, credentials, and fit for the position. Plus, it doesn’t matter their time zone.

Environmental impact

One of the most important issues of the day is climate change, and many employers are rushing to boost sustainability and lower their carbon footprint. Remote workers help with climate change by cutting emissions by minimizing the number of vehicles on the road. Working remotely also lessens the amount of paper, packaging, and other office supply waste produced in the workplace.

There is less need to print documents and use single-use or throwaway products, which are commonly found in office environments. Remote employment lessens its influence on the environment and helps preserve it by reducing the need for these resources.

Since remote workers won't have to travel to work every day, fewer cars will be on the road. Fewer cars mean reducing the amount of emissions that pollute our air.

Employee retention and satisfaction

Companies and employers are introducing remote work environments to give employees more freedom to balance their personal and professional lives. They do this to avoid employee burnout and increase worker retention.

Employee satisfaction and stress levels increase and decrease when work arrangements are flexible enough to accommodate:

• Personal interests
• Family obligations
• Health requirements

Remote workers have the freedom to handle their jobs on their own and are not always under observation. Remote work environments encourage a sense of empowerment and trust that improves job satisfaction and retention. They do this by giving employees more control over their work environment and productivity.

As a result, the worker is more productive and feels more appreciated by the organization. Employees are also less likely to search for alternative employment options.

Adaptability and business continuity

Even a year before the global pandemic, disaster preparedness on such a scale seemed far-fetched. Still, as unreal as it seemed, it occurred and showed how vulnerable businesses with no existing work-from-home structures were.

Companies with remote or hybrid work policies had an easier time transitioning their operations online. To the surprise of supporters of traditional work models, these companies flourished even during the pandemic.

In fact, employers that adopted the remote work model during this period saw an increase in employee performance and satisfaction. This ability to maintain business operations during natural disasters or emergencies is another crucial benefit of remote work.

Moreover, companies may more easily and effectively adapt to changing market conditions. In a globalized economy, employers compete with companies worldwide, not only locally. Remote work allows employers to level the playing field regardless of their location.

Technology and communication

Technology is more advanced than it's ever been, meaning employers who aren't offering remote work are missing out on opportunities. There are many benefits of working from home for employers, so there's no excuse for employers not to reap them.

All employers really need to have an effective remote workforce is a quality digital workplace platform. With a good digital platform, employees may access the necessary apps for their work.

All you need is an internet connection access in your home and a digital platform provided by your employers. This allows you to accomplish your tasks without any issues.

Another aspect of the business that may improve is surprisingly communication. In other words, employees will learn to talk directly to those they need instead of wasting time, and this will also boost collaboration between colleagues.

Work From Home: The Potential Drawbacks

There are both advantages and disadvantages of working from home for employers. However, the advantages far outweigh the drawbacks for both employers and employees. Some of the potential disadvantages include the following:

• Remote work may not be a good fit for everyone - Some employees may perform better in an office setting. Remote workers must be able to self-direct and be comfortable with using technology.
• Potential data security issues - These issues are easy to address and rectify. Plus, employers can provide security training to their employees.
• Employees may feel isolated - Some employees may feel disconnected from their colleagues without the in-office environment. Employers can address this by scheduling regular team meetings and encouraging employees to use messaging apps to improve communication.

Find Your Remote Job With Afni Today!

The benefits of working from home for employers are many. This includes increased productivity and cost savings. Remote work also allows employers to ensure employee satisfaction and increase retention rates.

More importantly, employers aren't limited by location and have global access to talent. This is how we have grown our Afni family globally, and if you want to be a part of it, apply today!

About the Author

Samantha is the Recruitment Marketing Manager for Afni and brings a wealth of knowledge and tips for job seekers. She holds a bachelor's degree in public relations and marketing from Mount Saint Vincent University as well as a masters degree in digital marketing and advertising from Liberty University.