Working From Home-Not Just For Snow Days Anymore

January 5, 2021 at 9:23 AM

Snowman

At this time of year, we used to talk about remote work as an option to avoid weather events but 2020 has changed all that. Many of us are working full time at home now and many of us may be getting tired of it. So here's a reminder that remote work can be a good thing.

Working Remotely Can Promote Employee Engagement

Employees are happiest when they are invested in and fulfilled by the work they’re doing – that’s why “employee engagement” continues to be a hot topic. But in addition to providing fulfilling work and working to improve company culture, having a workplace that meets workers’ needs for work-life balance can be the difference between having happy, loyal employees and fighting constant turnover.

Not having to spend hours commuting (sometimes in terrible weather) means your workers can stay not only safe and save time, but can remain focused on productive work throughout their workday. Workers do not have the distraction of the office environment and for many, this helps them keep on track.

Working Remotely Boosts Productivity

Many companies worry that workers who telecommute won’t be as productive or work as hard. Studies have not only disproved this fear of allowing workers to telecommute, they’ve shown that workers are in fact more productive when they can work remotely.[1] Workers tend to work longer hours (since no time is lost commuting), take less time off for personal time, and log fewer sick days. Telecommuting also allows employees to work in the workplace of their choosing: noisy or silent, outside or indoors. Employees can work remotely from anywhere in the world, allowing them to travel without taking vacation.

Research shows that happy employees are more productive employees – up to 12% more productive, according to one recent study. “The driving force seems to be that happier workers use the time they have more effectively, increasing the pace at which they can work without sacrificing quality,” noted the economists from the University of Warwick.[2]

Cloud-Based Systems Allow Convenient, Secure Data Access

Using cloud-based networks and HCM systems ensures that everything your workers need to do their jobs is at their fingertips, anywhere they have a network connection. Software as a service (SaaS) allows you to make the latest versions and upgrades of the software your company uses available to your entire network, wherever they are. Cloud-based networking can incorporate security measures to ensure that every connection into your company’s data is secure, even if you’re accessing sensitive data through a public WiFi network.

StarGarden HCM 5.0 is an integrated HCM solution that incorporates HR shared services and intelligent business process automation tools into one software solution available as SaaS. Its federation technology facilitates connecting with outside servers to collaborate on projects like outsourcing, travel planning, benefit management, procurement management and managing contract workers using just one interface.