Where are you reading this email? You could be at the office, working from home, on the road, or even attending the NASTC conference. These days, thanks to technology, the new way of doing business is anytime, anywhere.
According to a Forbes article, an estimated 30 million Americans work from home at least once a week, and the number keeps growing. In fact, a study by the Telework Research Network estimates the number will increase 63% in the next five years.
You might be wondering how working from home could possibly be good for business. How can you make sure your employees are actually working, and not watching Netflix, lounging in their bathrobe, playing Solitaire, or cooking dinner while on a conference call?
Despite such temptations, over two-thirds of businesses report that many of their employees are actually more productive when they work from home due to fewer interruptions from chatty colleagues, a feeling of empowerment from managing their time, flexible, and, yes, longer hours. Because the home office “never” closes, teleworkers often continue to work even when they’re sick; they’re able to return to work quickly after pregnancy or surgery; and they can handle service repairs and personal appointments without losing a full day of work.
Telecommuting isn’t just good for business, though. Employees who work from home also say it’s the cat’s pajamas, even if celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres do parody the lifestyle (watch this hilarious spoof). Indeed, telecommuters enjoy many freedoms, such as never getting stuck in traffic and the ability to attend important meetings in pajama pants. In fact, one survey reported that a third of Americans said they’d rather have the option to telecommute than an increase in salary (I’m not sure if the pollsters spoke to the employees of Matchmaker Logistics on that one!).
Matchmaker still operates out of brick-and-mortar offices in both North Carolina and Alabama, but we also have key employees who telecommute from other states. (In fact, last week, we moved one employee from our Wilmington, NC office to Albany, NY because her husband accepted a promotion there.) Another benefit: because we offer telecommuting, we’re able to retain great employees!
It’s a system that works well for our team, we’ve already met one crucial business goal for the year and we’re on track to hit the others, which tells me we’re doing something right.
Admittedly, telecommuting isn’t for everyone (it certainly doesn’t work for surgeons, chefs or truck drivers!), but surveys have found that, in general, both employers and employees are warming up to this option.
As for me, I work from our brick-and-mortar location most days, but enjoy the occasional morning or afternoon in my home office. In both instances, unlike these poor people, I’m lucky to enjoy a short commute.
Hope your weekend is the cat’s pajamas,
~Bob
