Is hiring a remote workforce the right choice for your business? Advantages and disadvantages revealed.

The concept of remote working or hiring a remote workforce is not new. However, after the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, this concept became a necessity more than a choice. Earlier, work from home used to be a benefit offered by only a few organizations, but now it has become a standard process for most. Working from home offers time flexibility and allows organizations to hire the best of talents without worrying about geographical boundaries.

According to a global survey conducted by Statista, in 2021, nearly 80 percent of employees working at least partially remotely would recommend this working arrangement to a friend. Also, a little over 60 per cent of employees showed their will to consider leaving their co-located company for a remote role.

Although remote working may sound an excellent option for organizations to consider, it comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Let us have a look at a few of them.

Advantages of remote working

Greater flexibility

Working from home offers not only excellent flexibility but also agility in the work schedule. Employees can choose flexible working hours and even decide to work over weekends when they are no longer bound to go to the office. This flexibility can be an added advantage, especially for employees who have to deal with clients in different time zones.

Healthy work-life balance

Employees working from home are more likely to stay longer with the organization as remote working offers a healthy work-life balance. Employees working from home can minimize travel time and divide time between their work and family. Employees are pleased to work with organizations that respect their time, reducing their chances of leaving your company due to dissatisfaction.

Hire new talent

One of the most significant advantages of working from home is hiring new talent across the globe.  Organizations can hire the most suitable person for the job role, bypassing demographic boundaries. This gives you a competitive edge over the others who do not allow working from home for their employees.

Disadvantages of remote working

Succumb to home distractions

Working from home may not be a good option for every employee, especially those who do not have a quiet place to work. Employees need to be fully dedicated to work and must be able to avoid any home distractions. This may hamper the quality of work, and even deadlines may get stretched sometimes. To work effectively and efficiently, employees need to structure their environment to keep them away from distractions. And hence, before hiring a remote workforce, organizations must consider this scenario.

Difficulty in performance monitoring

Performance monitoring is one of the most significant challenges that most organizations face during remote working. Depending upon the nature of the work for some companies, creating measurable goals and targets for employees is vital. When in the office, it is easier to discuss and monitor the employees’ progress and even assist them, if required. Although you can do everything over virtual calls, it can still be a challenge for a few.

Lack of social life

As happy as it may sound to be with your family all the time, working from home may lead to potential burnout and high stress resulting in inefficiency. Lines between work life and personal life often get blurred for employees who cannot maintain a balance between both effectively. They may miss the warmth and closeness of working together in a confident space, having lunch with colleagues, and those must-needed regular breaks.

Remote working is not just the need of the hour. Seeing the number of advantages it offers, more and more organizations are inclined towards hiring employees remotely. Although remote hiring gained momentum during the coronavirus pandemic, organizations are keen to follow this hiring approach in the future. Not only does it offer a better work-life balance to the employees but also flexibility to work. However, as mentioned, everything comes with its own set of perks and challenges. So, if you are not sure whether you should go permanently remote or not, consider all the factors, including the nature of your business, working schedules, clients’ requirements and more.