Remote work is likely here to stay as both employers and employees experience benefits. Remote work impacts every aspect of an employee’s working life. And in many ways, it has had a positive effect on employee well-being. However, it also presents certain challenges that companies need to address.
Benefits of Remote Work for Employee Well-being
More flexibility – Employees have more control over their schedules with remote work. They can more easily adapt their working hours to match personal or family needs. This increased flexibility allows for a much better work-life balance for employees.
No commute – Working from home eliminates the need to commute to an office every single day. Employees get those hours they would have spent commuting back to spend however they choose.
More family time – Remote workers can spend more quality time with their loved ones by working in a home office setting. The flexibility makes it so much easier to juggle family responsibilities while still working.
Reduced stress – Remote workers avoid the strain of a long daily commute to and from the office. They also face far fewer distractions in a quiet home office resulting in significantly lower stress levels.
Greater focus – Telecommuters are often able to avoid unnecessary meetings and water-cooler chats that take up time. This allows for longer uninterrupted periods of productive, focused work.
Challenges of Remote Work for Well-being
Lack of social interaction – Because remote workers are isolated in their home offices, they can feel disconnected, experience loneliness, and have trouble collaborating. This also makes it much harder to establish strong work relationships.
Distractions at home – Without the structure of an office building, employees face many distractions at home including kids, pets, chores, etc.
Longer working hours – Remote workers may end up working longer hours because there is no set schedule and work is always easily accessible at home. This can lead to frustration and burnout over time.
Ergonomic discomfort – Often a home office is not ergonomically optimized like a traditional corporate office. Working in a makeshift or inadequate space day after day can lead to various pains and discomfort over time.
How Companies Can Support Remote Employee Well-being.
- Encourage social interaction through online group activities and fun team-building exercises.
- Allow for collaborative work through video calls and cloud-based document-sharing systems.
- Set reasonable availability expectations that prevent employee burnout.
- Provide ergonomic advice and office stipends for proper home office equipment.
- Give allowances for childcare assistance if needed during working hours.
- Survey remote workers regularly about their well-being and take action to address feedback.
The remote work revolution is here to stay. While it certainly provides benefits, companies need to be proactive in addressing the challenges that can come with it.
With proper support and policies in place, companies can optimize the arrangement for employee satisfaction, engagement, and productivity. The payoffs for both employers and employees make it well worth the effort.
