In an article from 2018, up to 70 percent of people globally work remotely at least once per week. This percentage has clearly skyrocketed due to the recent Coronavirus pandemic causing a surge in Work from Home (“WFH”) employees that are non-essential to keeping the basics of humanity on track (i.e. first responders, medical staff, grocery staff, restaurant staff, etc.)

As a side note, we are all grateful for the dedication of these essential workers and continue to wish them safety and good health as they support those who are inflicted by COVID-19 along with those who are taking #QuarantineLife seriously. Again, THANK YOU!

You don’t need to pay the rent on physical office space if you want to set up your startup.

Instead, you can employ your whole team remotely. There are so many reasons why remote work is the startup sweet spot.

You can keep your overheads low. You don’t have to compromise your corporate culture either.

Keep reading to discover more reasons for your startup to operate remotely. Let’s get started!

1. Increased Productivity 

You may think that remote workers would always be slacking off.

But, remember there are so many distractions in the office. It can be difficult to get your head down when people are always offering you a coffee or chatting about their weekend plans. 

Around 30 percent of remote workers say that they accomplish more in less time compared with working in an office. 

Office workers agree that they would be more productive if they worked remotely as well. Roughly 65 percent say working remotely would boost productivity. 

Of course, you still need to monitor your remote workers. You need to ensure goals are reached and deadlines met. But, you’ll see better results from remote workers.

2. Remote Workers Aren’t Stressed

Stress is a big problem among U.S. workers. Around 8 in 10 Americans say they are afflicted by stress. 

The exhausting commute to the office, long hours working and countless meetings throughout the day. You can see why workers are stressed.

And yet, around 82 percent of remote workers report lower stress levels compared with when they worked in the office.

A mentally healthy workforce is going to produce better work and be more productive as well. 

3. Improved Employee Retention

The average cost of hiring one employee is $4,129. 

Recruitment can be extremely expensive. Whenever possible, it’s important to keep hold of your current employees for as long as you can. 

Therefore, you may be surprised to hear that sending your workers home more can also improve employee retention rates.

Companies who employ remote workers oversee on average a 25 percent fall in employee turnover.

Workers want to the flexibility which remote working brings. They’re also willing to stay loyal to employers who provide the opportunity to work remotely.

Furthermore, if you don’t provide your workers with the opportunity to go remote, they may find employment somewhere else.

4. Cost-Effective 

Think of all the savings you can make with a remote workforce?

You don’t have to pay for your office rent or any maintenance. You won’t need IT infrastructure or office supplies. 

There are so many costs which you don’t even consider when you sign a contract for an office rental. Now you can manage your remote workers via the internet for a fraction of the price. 

When you need a meeting you can either visit a local cafe, hire a meeting room for the day or chat online.

5. Connected to the Company and Each Other

You may think that you’re going to lose the connection from workers to your company and its brand.

How can your workers feel connected to each other while they’re miles away from each other?

Up to 87 percent of remote workers say that they feel more connected to the company, even though they share no physical office space.

Even in a physical office, workers don’t always spend much time together. Remote workers can be in near constant communication with each other. 

6. Attract Talented Workers

Remember, you’re always in competition with other startups in your industry to attract best-talented workers.

Promises of a high salary and interesting work are important for employees. However, don’t neglect the attraction of remote working among job-seekers.

Up to 88 percent of millennials want the ability to choose when they start and finish work. Flexibility is becoming increasingly important for workers. 

You can appeal to millennial graduates by offering them the chance to work remotely for your startup.

7. Encourage Healthy Workers

The average American commutes for roughly 50 minutes per day. 

Commuting can cause numerous health problems, such as higher blood pressure to increased risk of depression. 

Remote workers have a better work-life balance, which leads to improved health. 

8. Opportunity to Seek Out Working Spaces

You have to question whether office spaces are actually the best place for your workers?

Working in a cafe has been shown to encourage innovation and creativity in people. If you prefer a quiet space, many people enjoy the experience of working in a public library which has a silence policy.

For other remote workers, working at home can allow them to be near to their family. Without worrying about spending too much time away from home, workers can engage better with tasks. 

9. Environmentally Friendly

Every company has to find ways to be more environmentally friendly.

Think about the carbon footprint of your office. Imagine the fumes pumped into the air during your workers morning commutes.

You can cut the carbon emissions of your company simply by allowing your workers to go remote. 

This can also contribute positively to your brand among customers and workers alike.

10. Happier Employees

It’s a sad fact that many employers simply don’t care about their employees’ mental health. Make a change – you should care about your employee’s happiness. 

By allowing your employees to work remotely, you can improve their well-being and happiness. They are able to focus on their own mental health more, rather than on how long it will take to drive to the office.

Happy employees are productive, creative and engaged in your company. 

Time to Switch to Remote Work

Now you know why allowing your employees to work remotely is so beneficial for your startup.

From healthier and happier workers to the chance to save on overheads. Remote work is the future of work. 

Your team is the greatest asset to your startup. Do you want to know why? Check out my blog post here. 

*Revised April 2020