(ANTIMEDIA) According to a new study, people who work from home are both more efficient at their jobs and better at collaborating with fellow employees. The data falls in line with other recent studies, which demonstrate that the once-common notion of remote workers eating potato chips in their pajamas may be quickly becoming a thing of the past.
“It may sound counter-intuitive, but employees are apt to work more efficiently and collaboratively when operating remotely,” reports Market Watch, according to a “new study released Tuesday by video and voice collaboration technology company Polycom, Inc., and Human Resources executive network and research firm Future Workplace…”
Of the more than 24,000 employers researchers surveyed, 62% were already taking advantage of the what they find to be the benefits of working from home. Of that number, 98% claimed that “anywhere working” increases productivity.
“There’s a stigma that remote workers are disconnected from the rest of the team, yet this study proves that they are more sociable and proactively reach out to develop strong relationships,” Jeanne Meister, a partner at Future Workplace, told Market Watch. “The new technology tools that enable communication and collaboration are actually motivating workers to pick up the phone, seek face time and create lasting bonds.”
Meister pointed out that digital communication from one person to another, as opposed communication that occurs in a traditional office setting, allows workers to get a better feel for fellow employees as human beings:
“You beam into someone’s personal space at home, and you see not only the person but what’s important to that person in their home office.”
According to Cassidy Solis, a workplace flexibility specialist at the Society for Human Resource Management, remote working can actually encourage loyalty in employees, as well.
“Employees in a flexible workplace are more engaged and have less intention to leave employers,” she told Market Watch. “They appreciate the trust and pay it back to their employers 10-fold with loyalty.”
Other recent studies have demonstrated a growing fondness for remote employment, as well as a growing frustration with open office work plans.
“Shared work environments, and in particular hot-desking, are associated with increases in distraction, negative relationships, uncooperative behaviors and distrust,” a 2016 study from the Auckland University of Technology concluded. Another 2017 research study revealed that half of office employees surveyed have issues with noise in the workplace.
Remote working, according to the latest study, also aids in a person’s overall daily balance and can be helpful in reducing stress. And all the while, Meister says, it’s important to remember that employees aren’t the only ones benefiting from this type of relationship:
“We often talk about productivity and work life balance for employees, but it also offers employers access to global talent.”
Creative Commons / Anti-Media / Report a typo
Source