Going Remote - Why Businesses Are Switching to Online Freelancers

At the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, many professionals viewed working from home as a temporary solution to a temporary problem. Two years later, trends suggest that remote work is here to stay, and here are four reasons why that’s a good thing! 

1. Demand for remote work continues to grow: 
A study of 10,000 workers conducted by the University of Chicago found that 59% were more likely to choose a job based on whether or not remote work was an option. The same study found that post-pandemic, a whopping 92% of respondents expect to continue working from home for at least half of their work week. This increase in demand means employers who choose to offer remote positions become more competitive and desirable to job seekers. With access to a wider pool of applicants, businesses can be more selective with who they hire, recruiting top talent at bargain prices.  

2. A remote work set-ups take up less time, space, and money: 
Freed from the financial burden of paying for office space and supplies, businesses can reallocate their budget to more profitable avenues. Online workers are also more receptive to flexible pay packages - 23% of people surveyed by the University of Chicago said they would agree to a 10% pay cut to continue to work from home on a permanent basis. Employers aren’t the only ones who benefit financially from a work from home set up - employees who work remotely also save $500 a month or $6000 a year on average. Time normally spent on commuting can be spent doing exercise, chores, hobbies, or spending time with family. 

3. Remote workers are happier (and increasingly more productive!): 
Remote workers consistently report higher satisfaction rates than their in-office counterparts. And why shouldn’t they? They enjoy more control over their day-to-day schedule and their work environment. Although a collaborative office setting is advantageous for group projects, individual work is arguably already better suited for a work-from-home setup. “But what about productivity?” you may ask. It’s true that results have been mixed as to whether remote employees perform better than in-person employees, but productivity among online workers is quickly improving as remote work becomes more routine and as remote-work technology software becomes more sophisticated.
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4. Remote work supports a diverse workforce:
Offering remote work to your employees is pretty much guaranteed to aid you in building a more diverse team of professionals. And for a variety of reasons: minorities can forgo having to deal with in-person politics, parents are more available for their children, employees with disabilities or medical conditions can prioritize their needs while still contributing professionally. Without being geographically anchored to one location, workers who may otherwise have had to quit their job in pursuit of a more flexible option can continue their employment the same as before.