Benefits of Hiring Remote Employees

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional office workspace changed permanently. After the transition to remote teams and employees, many companies saw increased productivity and convenience. While navigating a digital working environment has its challenges, it also provides many benefits, including staffing costs, convenience, and satisfaction. Remote work has become a preference among candidates as well as businesses, so considering the switch could be a breakthrough for your business.

In this piece, we outline five benefits of hiring remote employees and embracing a digital tech workspace.

Benefits of Hiring Remote Employees

Wider Candidate Selection Pool 

Before the pandemic, many in-person workplaces only hired individuals geographically close to the office, or people who were willing to relocate for their job. For companies not located in big cities, this can seriously limit recruiting abilities. With remote employees, companies are not restricted by geographical boundaries, meaning that tech candidates all over the country, and perhaps even outside of the country, can now be considered to fill positions. This ensures that recruiters are hiring the best candidate possible, instead of just the closest candidate available. This can also improve inclusivity and accessibility for a firm as individuals with disabilities and minority groups, who may often face physical or emotional barriers in a typical office environment, now have access to these positions.  

Cost-Effective  

Hiring remote employees is often cheaper because you do not need to provide a workspace. Office leases, utilities, food, and more can become costly, whereas remote employees do not have any physical requirements such as a cubicle, catered lunches, or an administrative staff to help run the day-to-day operations. In fact, IBM saved $50 million, and Sun Microsystems saved $68 million, in real estate costs by transitioning to remote work. Also take into account that working remote takes out any relocation costs you may have to cover for long-distance new hires. Overall, remote hiring can seriously cut down on extra expenses making it more cost-effective. 

Increased Engagement and Productivity 

Although there has been stigma about how working remotely can decrease productivity, a lot of companies report seeing the opposite. Despite the quick transition, 61% of workers reported their productivity rose when working remotely. Remote tech workers have fewer distractions, more comfortable workspaces, and the ability to take more breaks, meaning time spent working is often more productive. Furthermore, remote employees are also less likely to take sick days as being at home is often a better place to deal with a cold than the office.   

Cutting Out Commute Times  

Statistics state that the average remote worker saves between 2 and 5.5 hours a day from not commuting to work. The time workers save from not commuting they can instead spend on work, therefore, increasing productivity or time spent on actual work tasks. This is also an appealing aspect for IT workers, as they often have an easier time balancing their work and personal life by cutting out commute time. It may allow them to be more flexible with working and managing kids, exercising, etc., which overall leads to happier employees. According to a study, workers who were remote reported being happy 22% more then workers who always go into the office. Another external plus to cutting out commuting is its positive effects on the environment. Carbon emissions are reduced when every employee is not driving to the office daily.  

Increased Retention Rates 

Lastly, remote work is a more attractive option for employees. In fact, 1 in 2 people won’t return to jobs that don’t offer remote work. It is an option that allows for more flexibility than a traditional work environment. Employees can take breaks to exercise, go outside, play with their dogs or kids, and do more therapeutic activities. Working from home has been shown to lower stress levels, and happier employees are employees that are more likely to be satisfied with their company and role.  Not only is it good for current employees, but it is often a big selling point for potential candidates. Overall, many working professionals are looking for the flexibility that working remote can offer.  

BCTG Can Help 

The decision to transition to remote working is one that depends on your company’s specific needs. Hiring remote tech workers has many benefits to consider when assessing your company’s future in a growing digital world. Through evaluating the downsides and benefits of remote employees and consulting with staffing experts from BCTG, you can decipher if remote work is right for your business. Contact us to learn more.