16 Benefits of Working at Home: Flexibility and Employees productivity

To boost productivity and enhance workers' comfort, companies are increasingly offering work from home options. This helps organizations save money and improve business performance, while allowing workers to plan their schedule flexibly and work from anywhere in the world.

Employees are also embracing this trend: 64% of workers want to work from home at least occasionally or even permanently. This format of work allows them to allocate more time to work tasks, watch their child's first steps and pay attention to their health, rather than spending that time getting to and from work.

In this article, we will define what all the advantages of working from home are and explore how to organize work from home processes efficiently.

16 Benefits from Working from Home for Employees and Employers

Working from home gives a lot for companies and workers:

• Companies gain more man-hours for the same amount of money. According to data from the National Bureau of Economic Research, employee works 48.5 minutes longer than usual, resulting in 193 additional work hours per year.
• Employees more effectively balance personal and work responsibilities. A study by Future Forum states that remote workers have twice the work-life balance compared to office workers. They can handle some personal tasks during the day and make up for the missed hours at convenient times.

Let's talk about the general benefits that companies and workers get from working from home:

1. More Satisfaction and Lower Turnover

For Employees: Work from home allows improved adaptation to family needs, making it easier to schedule around household responsibilities or spend time with loved ones. Workers can spend two hours on tasks in the morning, take an hour to care for a child, and then return to work.

For Companies: This means having satisfied and dedicated remote workers. A satisfied worker enjoys their work and doesn’t constantly feel uncomfortable. This indicates lower worker turnover within the company.

2. Health Bonus and Savings on Sick Days

For Employees: Remote workers find it easier to incorporate physical activity into their day, whether it’s a quick workout or a yoga session during a break. Being at home also makes it simpler to prepare healthy meals, supporting both physical and mental well-being.

For Companies: Healthy and calm workers are more beneficial to the company. Additionally, they get sick less often, which is advantageous for both parties: workers feel good and are more productive, and the company doesn’t have to pay for sick leave.

3. Fewer Distractions and Higher Productivity

For Employees: Distractions in the office environment often prevent workers from focusing on tasks and working efficiently. For those who dislike working with noise or nearby conversations, working from home is the perfect solution.

For Companies: Increased overall team productivity positively impacts business results. If workers want to work from home, don’t deny them — it’s highly likely you’ll see a boost in productivity.

4. Opportunities for Remote Regions and Expanding Talent Geography

For Employees: This is especially relevant for those living in small towns or rural areas, as well as regions with lower salaries. Work from home provides access to exciting career opportunities and salaries comparable to those in major cities.

For Companies: This allows companies to attract more valuable and professional workers who will not only be loyal to the company but also cost less than an employee with the same competencies from a major city.

5. Reduction of personal and corporate expenses

For Employees: Working from home reduces personal expenses on getting to and from work, fuel, parking, lunch, and even office attire.

For Companies: Companies can save on renting additional office space as it becomes available. 

6. Reducing Environmental Impact and Consumption

For Employees: Working from home decreases the number of trips to work, reducing personal carbon footprints. Additionally, lower consumption of resources like paper and electricity in offices supports an environmentally responsible lifestyle for workers.

For Companies: When employees work from home, office spaces are used less actively, meaning that the consumption of water, electricity, office supplies, and other resources decreases.

7. Flexibility and Effective Time Management

For Employees: The ability to choose their own start time allows workers to complete their duties more quickly. For example, if a worker is most productive from 12 PM to 8 PM, they can perform key tasks during this period more efficiently and meet all deadlines.

For Companies: Flexible working conditions foster greater worker engagement as workers feel that their needs and preferences are taken into account, which increases their motivation and drive to achieve common goals.

8. More Creativity and Adaptability

For Employees: Working in different environments, such as at home, in cafes, or coworking spaces, stimulates creativity and innovative thinking. Changing the setting helps break out of routine patterns and generate many great ideas.

For Companies: Companies that offer flexible working conditions can adapt more quickly to market changes and customer requirements, maintaining and strengthening their position in the market.

9. Inclusivity and Opportunities for Employees with Special Needs

For Employees: Work from home provides flexibility and comfort, especially for people with disabilities or chronic illnesses. Workers can create a customized workspace that meets their individual needs, helping to establish the most comfortable environment.

For Companies: Inclusivity attracts talented specialists and enriches the team with new perspectives and ideas. This enhances the company’s reputation as a socially responsible organization and increases the ESG rating.

10. More Trust in Management and Greater Workers Loyalty

For Employees: Trust from companies strengthens the sense of belonging, as workers feel trusted to manage their time. This boosts their self-esteem and job satisfaction, as well as encourages initiative and responsibility.

For Companies: Building a culture of trust increases worker loyalty, reduces turnover, and improves the overall atmosphere in the team.

11. Automation and Work Efficiency

For Employees: Automated tools make routine tasks at home easier. Some workers also work with these tools in the office to streamline their workflow. This allows you to focus on important projects and reduces errors.

For Companies: Automation in remote work boosts team efficiency. Tasks are completed faster, accelerating projects and improving business outcomes.

12. Savings on Corporate Events

For Employees: Participating in online events saves time and money. No need to travel — important meetings or themed parties are always on your laptop.

For Companies: Virtual events reduce expenses on offline activities. The saved funds can be redirected to product development or marketing.

13. Development of Self-Organization

For Employees: Working from home requires good time management. This helps develop discipline and self-organization skills.

For Companies: Self-organized workers work efficiently without constant supervision. This reduces the burden on managers and increases team productivity.

14. Flexible Schedule and Round-the-Clock Operations

For Employees: The ability to choose a convenient time to work improves work-life balance. This is especially beneficial for those living in different time zones.

For Companies: Workers from different regions provide 24/7 operations. The company can serve clients at any time, enhancing competitiveness.

15. Stability in Crisis Situations

For Employees: Working from home allows you to continue activities during emergencies. This ensures job stability and confidence in the future.

For Companies: Business processes don't stop during unforeseen events. The company maintains operations and minimizes losses.

16. Less Office Politics, More Productivity

For Employees: Working from home reduces the influence of office politics. Evaluations are based on results, not personal relationships.

For Companies: Workers are more focused on tasks. This improves teamwork and increases efficiency.

How companies can help workers improve their home workspace

Companies can support workers financially, educationally, and technically. It’s best to use these methods in combination — it will work more effectively.

📚 Educational Support

• Training and competence development: Organize online meetings with invited experts or ask more experienced colleagues to share their experience. This will help workers develop and advance in their careers.
• Training on Technology Usage: Ensure access to training courses on the effective use of tools and software for work from home.
• Time Management Consultations: Provide resources and training on time management, balancing work and personal life to enhance worker efficiency.

🧑‍💻 Technical Support

• Reimbursement of Equipment Expenses: Providing mandatory equipment, such as a laptop or tablet computer, and additional, depending on the specialty and profession: for designers — a graphics tablet, for programmers — a powerful PC. 
• Subsidies for Internet and Communication: Assist with the payment of high-speed internet connections and mobile communication, ensuring stable connectivity for work.
• Technical Support Service: Organize accessible IT support for quickly resolving technical issues and setting up equipment remotely.

How to maintain the motivation of employees working from home

Over time, employees working from home may feel disconnected from the team. This should not be allowed to happen. Here are some recommendations to help you build a close-knit team and an effective system to manage key negative aspects.

💬 Communicate More Often: Hold regular online meetings to discuss current projects. Use corporate messengers to share news, successes, and personal achievements.

🎨 Foster Team Spirit: Collaborative brainstorming sessions or various team activities can also strengthen team bonds. Organize virtual events, such as quizzes or challenges, to encourage social interaction.

✍️ One workday in the office per month: remote workers can choose to come to the office once a month to see colleagues. To ensure a workspace is available, they can plan their visit in advance through the hybrid office management system.

🫂 Provide Feedback and Recognize Achievements: Praise workers as often as possible, show that their experience is valued and that you’re glad to have them on the team. This will boost their motivation and make them work more engaged.

💚 Mental Health Support: Maintain open communication so workers feel comfortable sharing their concerns. Organize events to manage stress and promote mental well-being.

Common mistakes by work from home employees and how employers can support them

When working from home, workers can make mistakes that negate the bonuses of working from home for both them and the company.

💔 Isolation. Workers often do not pay enough attention to team meetings organized by the company for cohesion, not realizing their importance. As a result, they gradually start to feel disconnected from the team.

📝 Poor planning. Focusing only on short-term goals can cause work from home workers to lose sight of long-term career ambitions. Companies can suggest opportunities to continue developing skills, for example, by taking online courses.

⏱️ Neglecting breaks. Employees working from home often forget to take proper breaks, leading to burnout. Setting timers for breaks and incorporating activities like stretching or a walk can help restore energy.

🧗 Self-organization challenges. Without supervision, some wfh workers may struggle to manage their time and tasks, leading to missed deadlines or night-time work sessions. Prioritizing tasks and using time-management tools like trackers or project management software can help. 

👶 Distractions at home. The home environment can be full of distractions, from household chores to family members. Allow the worker to come to the office on days when there is a risk that household chores will be very distracting. For example, if a baby is crying in the background, it will be difficult to conduct a business meeting.

📺 Neglecting physical health. Work from home workers may overlook their physical well-being due to a sedentary lifestyle. A company may reimburse a worker for the cost of a gym membership or other sports activities.

The main thing about working from home

• Work from home enhances workers' work-life balance, reducing staff turnover and increasing job satisfaction. Workers can more effectively manage their personal and professional responsibilities, leading to higher retention rates and a more motivated workforce.
• Companies gain significant financial benefits from implementing work from home, including reduced costs on transportation, office rentals, and lower absenteeism rates.
• For successful work from home implementation, companies must provide financial, educational, and technical support, as well as actively work to prevent common work from home worker mistakes.

FAQ about working from home