The Positive Impacts of Remote Working After the Pandemic

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic.

The lives of hundreds of millions of people changed overnight. Many made the abrupt shift to working from home, others were furloughed, and millions more lost jobs.

Two years on, life is returning to some semblance of normal, but the way we work has changed forever. Pre-pandemic, working remotely was an opportunity available to a small percentage of the workforce, but now it is business as usual.

While a 100% WFH workforce may not be for every organisation, there are positive impacts in terms of cost saving, employee retention and productivity (to name a few) for those that do.

Let’s look at a few of them in more detail.

Improved Productivity

Some organisations believe that remote working leads to time-wasting and a lack of productivity, but a survey by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that remote working has increased productivity by 41% since COVID19.

Why? Firstly, the hours when an employee is most productive depends on their personality type and lifestyle. 9-5 doesn’t work for everyone. Remote working gives employees the ability to set their own schedules and work. And secondly, there are fewer distractions (no office chit-chat, and either fewer or more efficient meetings) so employees get more work done.

Cost Saving

Offering remote working saves money for employers (on office space, office supplies, utility bills and other facilities) and for staff, there are savings on commuting, child care costs, food and more.

Some employees can also take advantage of the tax relief available from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) for working from home). See claim tax relief for your job expenses - working from home.

Employee Retention

The number one reason employees choose to work remotely is for a better work-life balance.

Employees have obligations outside of work (e.g., children, friends, hobbies, etc.) Supporting them in their personal lives will ultimately lead them to be more loyal and committed to your organisation – thus saving on recruitment costs.

Bigger Pool of Talent

When you do have to recruit, remote working can broaden your candidate pool. Not only can you reach the best talent anywhere in the country, but you can also tap into certain groups of the population you would not otherwise have been able to, such as working parents and those with caring responsibilities.

Better for the Environment

From a corporate social responsibility perspective, working from home has a positive impact on the environment. It reduces travel emissions from people’s commutes and negates the need to heat, cool, and light offices.

Conclusion

There’s an old-fashioned stigma in thinking your employees will escape their work tasks when working from home. But this couldn't be further from the truth, as remote workers tend to be more productive and engaged. So, if your charity is looking to save on operational costs, improve employee retention rates, streamline the recruitment process and increase productivity, consider giving remote work a chance.

If you need talented fundraisers to fill your WFH positions, contact Bamboo on 0203 750 3111.