Remote work option improves productivity

Chennai: Over the past few years the demand for flexibility at work has become stronger among employees, especially the millennials. No wonder a large number of them as high as 83 per cent- feel that remote work policy is an important criteria while searching for job. Employers too find that flexibility raises productivity.

A survey of employees and employers across different sectors conducted by job site Indeed found that 83 per cent of employees rated remote work policy important while searching for job. Almost half (48 per cent) would consider changing their job if their current workplace eliminated remote work policy. Further, 73 per cent of employees wanted their current workplace to offer an alternative for the option and 53 per cent would even consider taking a pay cut if they could have the option.

They don’t even mind switching workplace for the sake of flexibility. Among the employees, 76 per cent, who do not have remote work options, were ready to do so, while 42 per cent have already searched for such job roles.

Employees across sectors believe that being able to work remotely allows them to maintain a better work-life balance and that it reduces stress and improves morale. More than half (56 per cent) of employees found that flexibility at work makes them more productive. However, they would work from home only two days a week on average if they had the option.

For employers, remote work policy has become a tool to attract and retain the best of talent, in keeping with the changing priorities of the present workforce, comprised largely of millennials. In fact, almost all of the companies surveyed (99 per cent) have invested in technology such as video conferencing tools, laptops, smartphones, Slack (searchable log of all conversation and knowledge) to make remote working more accessible to their staff. Even among employers, 83 per cent acknowledge that offering employees flexibility at work improves productivity.