The Pros and Cons of Remote Employment - Walrath Recruiting, Inc.

The Pros and Cons  of Remote Employment - Walrath Recruiting, Inc. A trend worth some discussing in the changing career landscape, is the increasing amount of remote work as a flexible work option. The remote worker also known as a telecommuter has been around for quite a while now, however, its usage is increasing rapidly as both employees and employers are being swayed by its accessibility and the advantages it can offer them. Like many job trends (contingent workers), this is still not an option for everyone in the workforce, but thanks to evolving technology and increased connectivity, it is becoming more prevalent.  Workers can often accomplish their daily tasks from anywhere, at any time, due to how connected we are. Something that was not readily available to us in the past. This change has a lot of the workforce (both employers and employees included) wondering if working remotely is a viable option for them. If you fall into that category, there are a few things you should consider. Advantages: One of the biggest advantages to remote work is not having to physically reside in the same geographic location as a business. This allows for talented workers to be employed for specific positions with reduced geographic limitation. Which can reduce employer expenses in regard to physical space and allow talented employees to do what they love, while living where they prefer. Additionally, there is potential for employee retention as well as increased opportunity for employment. When it comes to addressing work/life balance, (or integration, if you will) remote employment is ideal for many employees and employers. Assuming that less time spent commuting can mean, more free time for managing day-to-day life, a result is a happier and more productive workforce. However, remote employment can also present challenges. Business processes and procedures have to adapt to taking on remote employees but, first time remote employees will need to change the way they work as well. This means additional training can be necessary. A few concerns regarding remote employment: There is the potential issue of employees lacking the discipline and motivation to work remotely which will affect overall productivity (this does not mean that people are not able to do the work, but that they lack specific skills needed to successfully work remotely). Data security concerns Connections (VPN), Personal vs. company owned devises, cloud networks (encryption), etc. Communication and employee reliability. There needs to be effective communication channels set up and there needs to be trust on the part of both employer and employee. Diminished culture or social exclusion. Just because a worker is remote, does not mean they have no interest in being part of the company culture, there needs to be cultural consideration and efforts made to appease employee social needs. Thinking outside of the box, we cannot forget to mention some of the environmental benefits remote employment could have as well. According to globalworkplaceanalytics.com, telecommuting can slow global warming. “Half-time telecommuting could reduce carbon emissions by over 51 million metric tons a year â€" the equivalent of taking all of New York’s commuters off the road. “Additional carbon footprint savings will come from reduced: office energy, roadway repairs, urban heating, office construction, business travel, paper usage (as electronic documents replace paper).” It needs to be understood by anyone considering remote employment, that it is not for everyone, and it is not going to be possible for all types of work. It is an option that is available but you need to assess if it is the right one for you. Employers that are looking to utilize a remote workforce need to account for the need of physical presence in the office, technological limitations, etc. Remote workers will need to understand their ability to work remotely and that “remote” capability does not allow them to do whatever they want whenever they want. Tasks will need to be accomplished and time needs to be accounted for. The initiative and self-directed capability of a remote workforce, and the support and adaptability of employers are key to its successful use.