Over the last five years, the number of remote workers in the U.S. has grown 44%. The longer view reveals an even more pronounced upward trend, with 91% growth over the last ten years. Today, over 4.5 million people in the U.S. work remotely, and their ranks will undoubtedly grow in the years to come. A recent study found that 80% of U.S. workers say they would turn down a job that didn’t offer a flexible working arrangement, so if you don’t currently have a remote work plan in place, you’ll want to start working on one ASAP, because the top talent will surely gravitate toward companies with at least some remote work options. The rise of remote work makes sense on a gut level--of course flexibility is attractive to employees and employers --but what do the numbers say? Is it really good for business and the people who conduct it? The answer is a resounding yes.
Business Benefits
A study conducted by International Work Group found that 85% of businesses offering flexible work arrangements have seen an increase in productivity, with 63% of those surveyed reporting an increase in productivity of at least 21%. These numbers should mitigate any worry you might have about remote employees shirking their responsibilities. Nothing could be further from the truth. If anything, they’ll be getting more done in a shorter amount of time.
Job Satisfaction
But enough about your bottom line. If you’re invested in the idea of longevity, you’ll need employees to stick around. And it’s hard to keep top talent on board if they’re not happy with their work. In a recent Amerisleep survey of 1,011 remote workers, 57% of respondents said they are more likely than the “average American” to be satisfied with their job. 80% of remote workers surveyed described their stress level during the work week as “not stressed” or “moderately stressed.” Work is not always going to be pleasant, but it seems clear that offering flexible schedules mitigates the deleterious effects of the daily grind.
Global Impact
Okay, so remote work is good for you and your employees. It’s a win-win! But the positive impact of remote work sends ripples beyond the world of business. A report issued by FlexJobs in 2017 found that the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by telecommuters is the equivalent of taking over 600,000 cars off the road. And if everyone who wanted to telecommute was able to do so, the greenhouse gas reduction would be the equivalent of 10 million cars off the road.
With 75% of current teleworkers saying they plan to work remotely for the rest of their careers, it's a pretty safe bet that flex schedules are here to stay. Companies looking to stick around must figure out how to accommodate those employees. Not sure where to start? Explore our many mobile solutions for remote workers and please contact us if you have any questions. We will have one of our experts get back to you shortly. If there is anything else you’re looking for, use our Advanced Search tool to find it.
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