With coronavirus getting a stronger foothold in the UK, self-isolation for workers is likely to become more commonplace. At its height, the UK Government is warning that one in five of us could be off sick with COVID-19.

So with this threat looming over the workplace, why not take the jump into remote working and help mitigate the impact of the disease on your company? If you do, you might be surprised by the benefits and the reaction of your colleagues … 

Remote workers are more productive than their office counterparts 

The working-from-home trope is pretty well worn … sat around in your pyjamas, forwarding emails and not really doing any ‘proper’ work.

But people who do work from home are often incredibly proud of the work they accomplish, arguing that they get more work done from home than in the office … so where does the truth lie? A Harvard study set out to answer the question in a scientifically rigorous way.  

The researchers partnered with Ctrip, a 16,000-employee, NASDAQ-listed Chinese travel agency. They put in place a randomised, controlled experiment that monitored remote and office workers for nine months. The results were pretty conclusive. 

Remote workers were 13% more efficient than the office workers. They also took shorter breaks, fewer sick days and had less time off. Oh, and they cost less to the company than office workers.

Remote workers stay in their jobs longer

Not only will remote workers be more productive, they could also be more likely to stay in their job for longer. 

A recent survey by Owl Labs found that – of the 1,202 workers surveyed – 74% agreed that the ability to work remotely would make them less likely to leave their employer. And if they are currently remote working, they are 13% more likely to stay in their job for the next five years. 

Plus, 71% agreed that the ability to work remotely would make them more likely to choose one employer over another. So, if your business wants to attract and keep the best talent around, offering remote working options seems like a no-brainer. 

Remote working will be the new normal

The growth of remote working over the last decade has been phenomenal. Recent analysis by FlexJobs revealed that there’s been a 91% growth in remote work in the USA over the last 10 years. In particular, the last five years have seen a 44% growth in remote working. 

With the Coronavirus set to force a number of companies to offer remote working options, 2020 could be the critical point for remote working. The trend is showing no sign of dying, so why not get ahead of it and embrace it? 

By all accounts, you’ll get more productive workers, more engaged workers, more loyal workers and you might lower your costs in the process. 

Do you offer remote working at the moment? Are you planning on supporting remote working to help with coronavirus self-isolation? Let us know your thoughts …