The outsourcing trend in the United States and abroad continues to flourish, providing workers in all countries with unprecedented opportunities. According to the Statistic Brain Research Institute, 36 percent of US CFO’s (Chief Financial Officers) report outsourcing positions within their companies. Here’s a look at why remote workers are good for business growth.
Businesses sometimes drown in operational costs, from expenses associated with running an on-site facility to insurance benefits and paid sick leave. Remote workers don’t require this kinds of steep financial investment. Additionally, remote workers do not take up physical space in an office building and therefore do not consume on-site resources like bandwidth and electricity, nor do they require furnishings like desks and electronics.
With the aid of technology, workers collaborate via email, Skype, and other electronic means. Not only does this create unique opportunities to localize business efforts, it also opens up a literal world of talent. Businesses aren’t limited to the professionals located in a particular city or county; instead, they leverage the talents of workers based all over the world. Online freelance marketplaces like Upwork, Elance and Freelancer.com house millions of available workers for every possible skill imaginable.
According to a study done by Stanford Business School, call center employees working from home outperformed peers in the office because they took shorter breaks and used less sick leave. They also reported higher levels of happiness and quit less often. Retention of quality workers is important to keeping company recruitment and training costs down. In this study, the average home worker saved the company about $2,000, nearly as much as his or her annual salary.
The Stanford Study found that not only do remote workers log more hours, they’re more engaged than their office counterparts. Specifically, the research showed people who worked remotely part time were the most engaged due to their ability to enjoy the best of both worlds-the opportunity to have in-person relationships with others in the office, while also being able to reap the benefits of working from home, such as fewer distractions.
Since communication cannot be done in person, virtual teams learn to communicate more deliberately—and with more clarity—since they cannot simply tap a co-worker on the shoulder.
The result is a team with more meaningful unity, fewer distractions, and better communication skills for when things do need to be discussed.