3 Ways Telecommuting Leads to Happier Employees
If you’ve ever struggled through a long commute or had to manage a last minute workplace crisis due to an absent employee, you probably have thought about the benefits of working at home. You’re not alone, says The Washington Post, since there are approximately 139 million people who commute every day who may have shared the same idea. Technological advances are making it easier than ever to remotely connect to your office and work from home. One solution that many businesses are exploring is telecommuting via video conferencing, and often in groups. Studies have been conducted that prove the effectiveness of reducing commutes resulting in higher worker productivity and morale, lowering travel costs and employee absenteeism and even allowing employees to be more engaged citizens. Exploring telecommuting can also save your business money by reducing maintenance costs and aid in the hiring process.
Higher Productivity with Fewer Distractions
During a typical workday, there are any number of distractions that can derail a productive employee. No matter how tight a ship you run, there is always ways that time can be wasted, intentionally or otherwise. Telecommuting using a corporate video communications service like BlueJeans can increase the productivity of your employees. Busywork and distractions such as idle chit-chat with colleagues, checking personal email and social media sites or a few stolen extra minutes at lunch all can be eliminated with telecommuting and relocating your workplace into the virtual meeting room. Attending meetings or working on project management through video conferencing from home allows employees to have contact with coworkers while still maintaining the autonomy of working from home. Time wasting diversions are lessened because the worker can complete personal tasks at home while still putting in the time at work. This inevitably results in higher job satisfaction and lowered work-related stress. Happier and more gratified employees can lead to lower turnover rates and better overall morale, in or out of the office. The beauty of today’s video conferencing system, though, is that it’s possible to unite all your telecommuters into one room. Whether you’re offering a general information session, or it’s a smaller team meeting, the ability to bring more than just one or two remote workers into a meeting is possible.
Decreasing Stress Levels
Commuting is stressful, no one will argue with that. Whether driving or taking public transportation, there are potential risks and pitfalls for commutes. Weather conditions can significantly affect commutes by causing traffic delays and rail closures. Driving in unsafe conditions or tackling delays on public transportation to make it to the office can be a major cause of distress and anxiety. Telecommuting can alleviate the pressure of the daily commute and can help employees use their time more effectively. For example, video conferencing can be a vital aid to working parents, those with chronic health conditions and to connect remotely with other offices. Additionally, video conferencing can replace the anxiety caused by work-related long distance traveling with the added benefit of saving on travel expenditures. Given that stress is one of the most counterproductive forces to innovation and creative thinking, taking reasonable measure to combat it only makes sense. Instead of expecting your employees to make it in during a snow storm of for an important meeting, ditch the meeting altogether and have them tune in via video as a group.
Benefit Your Business, Benefit Society
Can telecommuting through video conferencing and other technology lead to a better world? Reducing commutes mean that people can become more involved in society through higher voter engagement, have a greater chance of escaping poverty, and even raise more emotionally stable children. While not all businesses can cut out their employees’ commutes entirely, offering the option of part-time or occasional telecommuting can be a step in the right direction. There are benefits for your company as well. For employers who offer compensation for travel or commuting expenses, it can be a simple way to cut costs. Human resource managers can connect to a whole new market of employees all over the world and tap into the potential of a diversified workforce. Candidates looking to relocate can be interviewed with ease over video conference, saving your company time and money in the hiring process. In reducing the number of employees in the office, businesses can also reduce the costs incurred by having a larger physical space, such as square footage, furniture, energy bills, and other costs, according to Entrepreneur. In addition to saving your business money, telecommuting also cuts down on fuel costs and emissions from vehicles. If you want to sell this point, you can offer large-scale video conference meetings as a so-called green initiative also makes your company ethics look good to both employees and also clients.
It’s easy to see how telecommuting through video conferencing can improve your business. Your employees can connect remotely via smartphones and other Internet-enabled devices, making video conferencing a simple solution to many workplace dilemmas. Offering telecommuting options to your workers gives you an advantage in the job market and makes you more appealing both to your current employees and to future hires.