Are employees ready to go back to the office after the pandemic? The truth is most Americans prefer working from home. Here’s how you can make remote work a permanent career move.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, working from home has been a necessity for non-essential employees throughout the United States. Are employees excited about heading back into the office now that stay-at-home orders are lifting and loosening in most states? Not exactly! A recent poll shows that 54% of Americans want to continue working remotely on a regular basis following the pandemic.
Can We Give Employees What They Want?
Most employees have realized they are more productive and achieve a healthier work-life balance as at-home employees. Plus, they aren’t thrilled about giving up the flexibility and cost-savings they've experienced during the weeks of working from home. As a result, the best companies are reassessing their employment strategies and finding ways to meet the demand for more at-home positions.
At Digital Market Media, the pandemic has meant business as usual. We haven’t slowed down at all because we already had a strong, dedicated workforce of remote employees. Our call center team enjoys all the perks of working from home, and our business and clients experience more success as a result. It’s a formula that works: happier employees lead to happier clients or customers, which leads to a more profitable business. Now that’s a domino effect we can get behind!
Why Work Is Better At Home
What makes working from home so appealing to employees? Ask any remote employee, and he or she is sure to give you a long list that sounds something like this:
Greater Flexibility
Depending on the business, a remote employee may need to clock-in and out as usual, but there’s still built-in flexibility with an at-home job. You can chill on the couch or in your home office. Forget ironing your clothes and spending excessive time in front of the mirror getting ready each morning. If you want, you can roll out of bed and immediately get going with your workday.
You can catch up on laundry or play a game with your child on your lunch break, or even hold a sick child in your lap while you carry on with your work tasks for the day. The flexibility creates a sense of freedom that traditional employees have been unable to achieve in the daily office grind.
Cost Savings
How much money can you save by working from home? One study said the typical employee could save between $2,000 and $7,000 each year. No need to grab convenience food or a fast-food lunch. No need to spend a significant portion of your paycheck on gas and vehicle maintenance or repairs. You can also save money on professional wardrobe costs and, depending on your situation, the costs of childcare.
More Quality Time with the Family
A common struggle for working parents is feeling like they must sacrifice family time for a successful career. A remote position makes it easier to have the best of both worlds: earn a necessary paycheck while placing a high priority on family life. Knowing you can be available at home for your family members when they need you most is a tremendous benefit that isn’t usually an option when you work in the office full-time.
Increased Productivity
While it may be surprising, studies show that employees are more productive when they work from home. Fewer office distractions and interruptions and lower stress levels mean employees can achieve optimal levels of productivity, which leads to greater job satisfaction and better overall work performance. What’s more, home is comfortable – far more comfortable than the typical office environment. An employee who is comfortable can stay focused and take care of business, getting more accomplished in less time.
Will Businesses Meet the Demand with More Remote Jobs?
Time will tell whether more companies will begin to offer remote positions after the pandemic passes. But a recent survey showed that employers experience reduced expenses, better working relationships, and greater employee retention when they allow employees to work from home. Technology makes it possible now—more than any other time throughout history—for employees to perform nearly any task from home that they can perform in the office.
Because it is part of our employment strategy to hire remote employees for the DMM call center, our company has experienced first-hand the benefits for both our operations and bottom line. As a leader in the work-at-home industry, our success is possible thanks to dozens of remote employees who are living their best lives and enjoying their careers.
Make a Remote Position a Reality with DMM
Work doesn’t have to be restrictive and inflexible. You shouldn't have to choose a career over family in order to make a decent living. At DMM, we are passionate about helping our highly valued employees earn a competitive income and achieve a healthy, satisfying work-life balance. If you are interested in working from home, learn more about the current position openings in our call center now.
