5 Reasons to Hire Remote Workers for Your Business

By Shannon Davis.

Shannon helps entreps with organization, productivity and time management issues.

Have you been weighing the benefits of using remote workers for your business?

It might surprise you to discover that companies that offer remote worker programs are experiencing more growth and success through their remote workers than anticipated. The reports are in, and they are showing a definite increase in worker satisfaction and productivity, as well as huge company savings and increased profits.

If you are considering hiring remote workers for your business, these five reasons may be just what you need to take that step and start enjoying the benefits for yourself.

5. Companies can utilize the most qualified and talented candidates without worrying about proximity.

Most companies try to hire within a twenty-mile radius, which severely limits the talent pool for the positions to be filled. Hiring remote workers allows the business to hire applicants from around the world and find the right people for the job.

4. Companies save money by hiring remote workers.

Businesses that hire remote workers save money in a number of ways.The most obvious savings can be seen in the use of office supplies, furniture and space.According to a study conducted by Nicholas Bloom and James Liang, of the Chinese travel website Ctrip, the company saved $1,900 per worker for those who telecommuted over the course of the nine month study.

Companies that hire remote contract workers instead of employees save much more money due to the fact that they do not pay for benefits such as insurance, vacation and retirement savings plans.

3. Remote workers have a higher productivity rate than onsite workers.

Studies are showing that workers do not have to be on site to be productive. In fact, since working remotely offers people the chance to incorporate work tasks into the flow of their lives, they often show a marked increase in productivity.

A survey conducted by Cisco showed that almost 69 percent of workers significantly increased their productivity when they were allowed to telecommute.

Additionally, a survey conducted by Microsoft showed that workers did, on average, an hour more of work each day than workers that were on site.

This can be attributed to the fact that there are fewer days lost for minor colds and illnesses, and people are able to take work with them into waiting rooms and mechanic shops. People are also spending much less time commuting to and from work, allowing them to use that time more efficiently to complete work tasks.

2. Workers who are remote have improved communication.

People that work remotely tend to put more thought and effort into their communication and reporting strategies.This can be attributed to the fact that communication is at a premium when people are not on site and do not have the ability to ʻchatʼ throughout the day. Business leaders are encouraged to keep meeting short and make them as productive as possible since they are harder to arrange.

1. Remote workers have a high job satisfaction rate and are less likely to quit.

Trusting people to work from home may be a big step for some company leaders, but it pays off in the long run. The Ctrip study conducted by Nicholas Bloom showed that workers who were allowed to telecommute only quit half as much as employees who were on site.

This makes a lot of sense when you consider that workers were able to fulfill family obligations and other responsibilities without having any work conflicts.