Although the pandemic had brought catastrophic consequences to the business sector, the normalization of working from home may as well bring positive changes. Data acquired by Atlas VPN reveals, by 2030, the US companies can save 4.5 trillion dollars by letting their employees work remotely.

The US businesses could save trillions of U.S. dollars just by allowing its employees to work from home increases productivity and reduces fixed overheads as per Merchantsavvy report.

Hence, it is no coincidence that 65% of 1.2 thousand workers commissioned by Zapier find to be more productive working from home than from the office or a workspace. One of the advantages of working remotely is being able to concentrate better without the distractions and noises around.

Accordingly, even 80% of the respondents said they manage interruptions from coworkers better: working remotely eliminates unnecessary meetings or small talks in the kitchen. Also, 77% said they are finding more time to work and be productive outside the standard office hours.

Managers notice the bright side of letting employees work remotely, too. 85% of over 15,000 global businesses agreed that creating a flexible location policy leads to a productivity boost. Also, 37% of companies confirmed that letting the staff work remotely increased productivity by approximately 40%.

Employees evaluate remote working

Multiple pieces of research show that employees acknowledge the perks of working remotely. Yet, 66% still prefer working at the office or a workspace, Zapier research reveals. Contrastingly, 99% of employees say that they would like to have an opportunity to work from home at least part-time, according to Merchantsavvy.

These numbers lead to a conclusion that people prefer to work in the office but appreciate flexibility in a work environment: it is convenient knowing you work from home if needed.

Also, young people take advantage of the ability to work from home more often. 70% of 18-34-year-old workers said they regularly work remotely in comparison to 51% of workers from the 45-60 age group.

The report also claims that a flexible working policy is essential for people choosing their career path. 61% of the respondents claim they have quit or thought of quitting their job due to a lack of flexibility. 76% added they would be more loyal to their employers if they offered flexible location conditions.

Meanwhile, 80% of the respondents said that if they were choosing between two jobs, they would turn down the one that does not allow them to work remotely. 70% added that being able to work from home is the critical factor they consider when evaluating their career options.

Lastly, the respondents noticed that working from home has a positive impact on their wellbeing: 77% said being able to stay home improved their overall health.

Returning to offices: employers’ perspective on working from home

With quarantine restrictions easing up in some countries, people are thinking of returning to their offices. Recently, HRexecutive posted an article revealing that only 2% of employers believe they can remove strict precautions and allow workers to return to their workplaces anytime soon.

Also, 62% of respondents said their staff would continue working from home until experts confirm it is entirely safe to return. More than 27% of employers said they would allow their team to continue working remotely until they feel safe to return.

Meanwhile, 57% of employers said the staff members are currently allowed to work remotely. The survey also reveals that once the restrictions are lifted, and businesses start reopening, it will not necessarily change how employees handle the situation. 45% of employers said they would not be changing their current remote work policy.

Finally, 13% of managers confirmed they would be shutting down the entire office if an employee gets diagnosed with COVID-19.