3 Positive Impacts Of Working Remotely – For You And The Environment! ▶ Nomad Now

Working from home is now the reality that we are facing due to unforeseen circumstances. This has opened both employers and employees’ eyes to previously unexpected benefits of remote work.

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Evidence exists to show that remote works increases productivity, helps employees and employers feel happy about work, and saves money. However, there is something equally as important that is benefitting from the large shift towards remote work – the environment.

What is it about working remotely that has got the environment, workers, and managers feeling so good?

An Increase in Productivity

Until recently, managers and employers have been concerned about whether employees are actually going to be getting work done if they aren’t supervised.

To their surprise, data shows that being away from the distractions of the office – chatty colleagues, coffee breaks, a long commute, etc. – employees are more focused on their work. The results from a 2 year-long Remote Work Productivity Study conducted by Stanford University showed that “remote” working groups (compared to “traditional” working groups) have higher levels of productivity, fewer sick days, and a 50% increase in employee retention.

The trust that employers instill in remote workers boosts productivity too. Employees are sick less often, feel trusted, and less stressed due to high levels of productivity. This is beneficial for workers as well as managers! More work being done and a low employee turnover? What else could a manager ask for

Cost Saving

Employees end up paying for more than expected when reporting to an office every day and working from home removes these costs:

Just getting to and from work is expensive. If you drive you have to pay for petrol, parking, and the wear and tear on the vehicle. If you use public transport, you pay too.
The chances of eating out are higher too when you’re stuck in your daily office cube.
While it can be difficult to watch the kids while working, it is possible.This saves employees childcare costs.

Employers save money too. It’s not unknown that office space is expensive and is likely to be one the largest fixed costs to a business. By allowing some, most, or all employees to work from home, employers can reduce the amount of office space needed and bring down the costs.

Fewer employees in the office also means less office equipment, furniture, and supplies needed, lower electricity bills, and even fewer niceties like snacks and entertainment equipment.

Employers and managers benefit from a better work-life balance when working remotely. Both groups save money and have general higher levels of happiness and productivity. This has a positive impact on the environment too

A Healthy Planet

Fewer people commuting to and from work means lower levels of carbon emissions. People working from home can attend meetings, get work done, and talk to colleagues from one room. Even meetings that previously required flights to be taken are now being done online which greatly reduces an employee’s carbon footprint

In addition to lower carbon emissions, there is less waste produced that needs to be taken to landfill. A large amount of waste is a problem in and among itself but so is the extra emissions that come from long garbage truck journeys to and from the office. When people work from home, they produce less trash in general and seeing as it is just one person, waste is collected as usual without the need for an additional waste management company.

An empty office means that energy does not need to be used on heating or cooling open spaces to ensure the comfort and health of workers. This process is both costly and heavy on energy consumption. Working from home positively impacts the environment by decreasing the amount of energy being used.

A Place for Remote Work

Technology has made it possible for employers and employees to work collaboratively and effectively from their respective “home offices”. All you need is internet connection and you are set to work remotely and as well as hire remote workers to get just about any job done.

Long before the COVID-19 outbreak, platforms such as Nomad Now have been putting remote workers and hirers in touch.

Sign up as a remote worker or (remote) hirer and transact directly without involving a recruitment agency. Professionals create a Nomad Now profile enabling Employers / Hirers to view and engage with them for part-time or permanent staff needs.

About the author

Julia Paton

Julia studied a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in Film, English and Psychology followed by a Post-Graduate Diploma in Marketing, both at the University of Cape Town. Whilst at university, she co-founded “Shots Fired Productions” a photography & videography micro-business. In addition to her entrepreneurial spirit, Julia brings to the team international experience gained from working at an advertising agency in Hamburg (Germany) and managing the marketing portfolio at an AI & Data Science Company in Sydney (Australia).