The traditional North American workspace is evolving and its limits are receding. According to a recent Bank of Montreal study, 23% of Canadian companies now offer telecommuting opportunities to their employees. With the introduction and ubiquity of online communication technologies, hardworking professionals can be on-the-clock while they’re on-the-couch. And the advantages of such a system, for both employee and employee are clear.
Telecommuting Helping Companies Harness Key Resources
Managers at the top firms are looking for one thing from their employees – results. In an economy that is turning increasingly global with the advent of new online systems for businesses, North American firms are focused on meeting ever-higher targets and out-performing the worldwide competition. To do so requires optimal use of resources. And there’s no greater resource than modern employee. Companies that help employees maximize their time by offering work-from-home opportunities are now seeing strong returns for their innovative approach.
Consider the average Canadian’s commute of 40 minutes. This 40-minute commute over the course of a year equals eight weeks. That’s eight weeks that employees could be spent working on behalf of the company. When spread over an entire team, the amount of time gained by telecommuting could help provide the foundation for new project initiatives and a sharp uptick in performance.
Giving employees more time to complete their work is one thing. But telecommuting also gives employees more time to spend with their families while working. This is a significant benefit for employers because it means that employees don’t have to take the day off to care for a loved or recover from illness. They can simply keep their computer with them and work when they’re able, while communicating with managers via email. It’s the type of flexibility that is sure to help firms attract the top talent in the industry.
For employees, working from home means that their work now revolves around their life rather than their life revolving around their work. And this is an increasingly common objective for workers across the country. Consider for example a recent study commissioned by LinkedIn, which highlighted the evolving way in which Canadian women define professional success. The study showed that more women now place greater importance on achieving a work/life balance than improving their salary or position. This is perhaps why companies that offer telecommuting options comprise the majority ofCanada’s 100 Top Employers for 2013.
The Shift from a Micro-Management Style to Objective-Based Management
Telecommuting offers tangible advantages for both employers and their team members. But strong oversight and management is still required to keep telecommuting employees on-task. Companies intent on capitalizing on the advantages of having an off-site workforce must always have in place specific objectives for their employees to complete. They must also make employees aware of how those goals contribute to the company’s bigger picture. This can help focus off-site team members on their priorities and help drive a hardworking team mindset.
Communication also remains a critical component within a telecommuting workforce. Managers must maintain regular communication with their employees in order to foster an environment of inclusion and group trust away from the office. Companies able to retain the focus of their workforce while giving them the freedom to work from home are all set to lead their industries as the modern working environment continues to evolve.