With the number of people working from home constantly rising, it raises the question, is working from home more productive? We did extensive research. Here are the facts.
Data gathered from multiple surveys show people who work from home, even occasionally, are 47% more productive. This is because working from home is providing employees with certain flexibilities they do not have while working in an office.
In order to understand the factors which, contribute to an increase of productivity by working from home, and how it relates to an employee’s overall happiness, keep reading. We are also providing important tips to help you increase your own productivity while working remotely.
Are Remote Workers More Productive?
Overall, working from home is showing to be more productive than being in the office. The majority of work-from-home employees have reported an increase in their productivity.
With our world and technology constantly advancing, the growing ability to work from home has lead to happier employees. It is reported that people who are generally happy with their job are 13% more productive than those who are unhappy.
But, what contributes to the reports of increased productivity?
Employees Feel Safer Working From Home
Statistics show that currently, 66% of employees in the U.S. are working remotely, whether full-time or part-time.
With social distancing as part of the new norm, safety in the workplace is still a huge concern. If people come into contact with Covid 19 while at work, there is a likelihood, they will bring it home to their families and that is not a risk some people are willing to take.
An in-depth study highlighted that 71% of employees in the United States still do not feel comfortable working in the office due to exposure risks. In that respect, it is reasonable to conclude that having employees work on-site could hinder productivity if they are more concerned about exposure instead of focusing on their work.
Employees Want Flexibility
Employees say one of the reasons they prefer working from home is the flexibility they have. The ability to be flexible with their hours is making sure things easier for them.
- Having More Control over Work-Life Balance-A majority of people report finding it difficult to maintain their work-life balance when forced to go into the office. By being home, employees find it easier to juggle that balance.
- Creating a Personalized Work Area-Employees prefer the comfort of creating a personalized work area instead of sharing a large and disruptive space with other employees. It allows creativity to flourish and minimizes distractions.
- Focus on a Healthier Lifestyle-Statistics support the statement that a healthier person is more productive in all aspects of their life. With the flexibility of working from home, employees have the ability to focus on exercising regularly and eating healthier meals.
Studies prove that regular exercise improves:
- Energy
- Cognitive Function
- Stress Management
These benefits of a healthier lifestyle enable employees to focus on tasks for a longer period of time, solve problems more effectively, and work faster, which increases productivity.
People are busy, and work is just one of the responsibilities people face each day. Having the flexibility to schedule their hours has made working from home preferable for employees.
How many times have you been at work in the office and had a tough time focusing on the tasks at hand because you are thinking about everything else you have to do that day? By allowing the flexibility to work from home, employees can
- Break Up their Days
- Set Time Aside to Deal with Personal Matters
- Focus on Work with a Clear and Focused Mindset
This ensures increased productivity by encouraging a healthy work-life balance. While employees are solely focused on the tasks at hand, project turnover rates increase, therefore increasing the amount of work being completed.
Reductions In Stress
Working from home eliminates several stressors placed on employees as opposed to going into the office. Some of these include:
- Office Politics
- Commute
- Distractions
Working from home increases productivity by eliminating these stressors because there is no commute, no listening to idle gossip or office politics which steers focus away from actual work being done and gives the employee the option to take a break and come back to their work more focused.
Working From Home Is Convenient
We live in a world of instant gratification and convenience. For this reason, it is no surprise the average employee says one of their favorite reasons they prefer working from home is the abundant conveniences.
- No Commute-By telecommuting, they are saving money on gas and automobile upkeep.
- Staying Home with Families-Working parents can stay home with their children, saving chunks of money on childcare. Furthermore, this reduces the stress of dropping the kids off and picking them up on time.
- Cooking Meals at Home-Making meals at home proves more cost-effective and is healthier than rushing to pick up food during short lunch breaks. Being able to step away to make a healthy meal reduces the stress on a worker wondering what they will have time to eat.
These seemingly insignificant conveniences drastically improve the productivity of employees working from home by reducing a few everyday burdens. When people spend less time worrying about their commute, families, and meals, they are left with more time to focus and produce quality work.
What Hinders Productivity Working From Home?
While working from home has proven to increase overall productivity, there are some challenges that, while left unaddressed, can hinder productivity.
Distractions, lack of motivation, and feelings of isolation can ultimately hinder remote worker productivity if these issues are not resolved.
Distractions May be Present at Home
Whether people work in the office or from home, distractions will be present. Working from home affords the capability to control the level of those distractions, a luxury one would be hard-pressed to have at the office. Many of the distractions at home come from family and pets. A simple way for employees to avoid these distractions is to set up their personalized workspace in a quieter area of the home.
Lack of Motivation Due to Minimal Supervision
Having a lack of motivation is a tough thing to overcome, whether someone works from home or in the office. A tip to keep motivated when working from home is to make sure to get fresh air and break up the day. Taking short breaks throughout the day to go for a short walk, run a quick errand, or even take a shower will drastically improve mood, focus, and motivation.
Feelings of Isolation Without People to talk to
People who work from home tend to have increased feelings of isolation. In the office, there are people to talk to around all the time. At home, it is just the employee and their equipment, and that can eventually cause loneliness.
A tip to help decrease those feelings for remote workers is to schedule daily, or weekly video calls with coworkers. Do this in the morning while you have your coffee, or at the end of the week for happy hour. Being able to see people, even over video calls, helps keep lines of communication open and reduces those feelings of isolation.
Working From Home Increases Overall Productivity
In conclusion, research has proven that the safety, flexibility, stress reduction, and convenience of working from home improves the overall happiness of employees, which in turn increases their productivity.
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Sources:
Happy workers are more productive, research shows | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)
The Ultimate List Of Remote Work Statistics – 2021 Edition (smallbizgenius.net)
Remote Workers Are More Productive – businessnewsdaily.com
The productivity pitfalls of working from home in the age of COVID-19 | Stanford News
Study Finds Productivity Not Deterred by Shift to Remote Work (shrm.org)
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