Remote Work Benefits: 10 Ways Remote Working Makes Life Better for Businesses and Staff

There are plenty of benefits of remote working (Bye, bye, rush hour! See ya never, suit pants!), but like all modes of work, it can have its drawbacks.

It’s no secret that the Covid-19 pandemic altered our lives forever, and one of the biggest adaptations that has stuck with us today is in the way we work. Working from home has become the norm for the American workforce.

And by 2025, we can expect 36 million of us (22% of the workforce) to be working remotely, with even more employers adopting a hybrid work model. With the lines between home and office now blurred, workers and employers may have valid concerns about life after the office.

We’ll look at how employees and employers can equally benefit from remote or hybrid work models today—and in years to come. Discover more with BambooHR.

5 Benefits of Remote Work for Companies

1. Fewer Sick Days

We’ve all been there—feeling under the weather but still preparing to go into the office. Facing the morning winter commute while unwell can be daunting. But one of the advantages of remote work is that you get down to business at your own pace in an environment that’s comfortable to you— that is if you feel well enough to work.

Having the option to work remotely can also stop the spread of illnesses—something that launched working from home into the spotlight to begin with—and can therefore ensure the workforce stays strong.

Forbes also reports that working from home can mean better physical health for employees. Employees are more able to eat healthier food, work out, schedule doctor visits, and adopt improved self-care habits, thereby reducing absenteeism.

2. Larger Talent Pools

One of the biggest benefits of remote working for a business is that it unlocks new talent. A company restricted to an office in the heart of Manhattan, for example, could only attract those who were living locally, able to commute, or planning on moving nearby.

By opening up the talent pool to virtual workers, you can welcome great talent into the business who might not have been able to relocate. It means businesses can hire the best candidate for the jobs based on the person’s skills, qualifications, and suitability for the role, rather than whether they can get into the office for a 9 a.m. start.

3. Opportunities to Invest in Meaningful Benefits

Remote work offers employers the chance to reimagine employee benefits. By moving away from ping-pong tables and office snacks—as valued as they are—companies can shift to more meaningful benefits that employees care about.

According to WTW’s 2023 Leave, Disability, and Time-off Trends Survey, 84% of U.S. companies of different sizes and industries plan to revise their paid leave offerings soon—focusing on benefits their employees say they want, like:

• Child and senior care benefits
• Mental health support
• A more flexible work schedule

These benefits help companies increase employee engagement, boost loyalty, and attract top talent. According to a study by the Society for Human Resource Management reported by Forbes, 60% of employees said employee benefits were very or extremely important when deciding whether they want to stay with their current employer.

The demand for paid leave and paid time off has also increased among US workers. According to a 2024 MetLife Survey, 69% of Gen Z workers selected paid leave as a ‘must-have’ among employee benefits. A 2024 Economic Impact Report further shows that 71% of Gen Z workers cited paid time off as a critical factor when choosing a job.

4. A Smaller Carbon Footprint

Climate change is one of the most pressing matters of our day and many employers are scrambling to reduce their carbon footprint and increase sustainability. To those companies, we say, good news! Remote work is one of the most effective ways to do just that.

Employees working from home won’t have a daily commute, meaning there will be fewer cars on the road—and fewer emissions out there polluting our air. Research from IWG and Arup suggests that hybrid working can reduce carbon emissions by up to 87% in the US, thanks to a decrease in transport and building emissions.

1. Major Cost Savings

There’s no denying this one: both employers and their employees save big when they make the switch to remote work. According to FlexJobs, remote-bound workers save on average $5,000 more than office-bound workers.

Savings on gas and/or public transportation are a major factor here. But there are less obvious savings, too. When workers aren’t spending money on lunches out, nice work clothes, and those random trips to the store on the way home, the change quickly adds up.

Likewise, employers can benefit from work-from-home practices through serious cost savings. Based on conservative estimates, Global Workplace Analytics reports that the typical US employer could save $10,000 per employee per year. Companies can save on rent, utilities, and cleaning services and even reduce their tax burden by switching to a remote or hybrid work model.

5 Benefits of Remote Work For Employees

1. You’re No Longer Alone

Once upon a time, remote working was exactly that—remote. As far as some of your colleagues were concerned you might as well have been on Mars. Things are different now. We have a wealth of communication channels at our fingertips and we’re (for the most part) comfortable and adept at using them.

The likes of Zoom, Teams, and Slack have made it easy for employees and their employers to keep the lines of communication open. It’s a win-win. Businesses can feel confident their teams are still connecting and working collaboratively, while employees working remotely don’t feel isolated and lonely.

Hybrid working models also offer employees the flexibility to prioritize the place they enjoy working most. Where some might choose the office four days a week to take advantage of the traditional workplace life, those who prefer carrying out tasks from home can opt to do more days in that environment. When it comes to WFH vs remote working, a recent survey found only 11% will go back to the office full-time. The times are changing.

2. You Can Create the Perfect Workstation

In an office, employees have no control over what color to paint the walls, how to decorate their space, or what temperature to set the thermostat to. Optimum comfort is always in question, especially in shared office spaces. In fact, that temperature debate alone has long been a battleground among office workers.

Working from home, on the other hand, unlocks the ability for employees to create the perfect working environment and workstation for themselves: whether it’s a standing desk by the window, having the air-con on high, or placing pictures of the family around a brightly-painted room. And hybrid workers can take advantage of this arrangement too, knowing they won’t have to work in the same environment five days a week if they don’t want to.

3. You'll Race Toward Pressing Deadlines in Comfort

Jobs have deadlines. Whether it’s a project that needs to be submitted by the end of the week or a pressing email that needs to be sent by the end of the day, deadlines are inescapable.

But having the right environment can help you pin a task down. Meeting a deadline while working from home can be more comfortable and done with ease. If a worker knows they’re an early bird, they may wish to start a little earlier to meet the deadline and then finish earlier. Or, if they’re a night owl, they may choose to work a little later and then finish early the following day.

A recent study found that over nine months of working from home, productivity increased by 13%. This was attributed to several factors including:

• Quieter environment
• Fewer sick days
• Fewer breaks

Employees shouldn’t be working over their expected hours often as this misses the point of a flexible work-life balance. However, when a deadline needs to be met—whether it’s because time was taken out to see their child’s dance recital or a family member was sick—an employee knows they can work at the most convenient and comfortable time for them.

4. You Can Work from Home—or Bora Bora

For many digital nomads, wherever they lay their laptop is their home. Without the ties of a physical office, many fully remote employees are taking advantage of the freedom to work from anywhere—whether it be their hometown, the suburbs, or the beaches of Bora Bora. According to Flexjobs, 37% of respondents would happily relocate for a permanent remote work job with benefits such as:

• Improved quality of life
• Reduced cost of living
• Better climate
• Change of scenery
• Closer to family or friends
• Access to better schools.

But before you make that leap, it’s best to review your company’s policy around remote work in another country, and any rules in place relating to tax.

5. You're More Likely to Achieve Better Work-Life Balance

Among employees who prefer remote work, nearly all (90%) cite the flexibility and work-life balance it gives them, according to a 2024 BambooHR survey of 1,500 full-time US employees. These numbers demonstrate how employees prefer work from home because it allows for a better quality of life, and for parents with kids, navigating childcare.

Forbes also notes that the daily grind of travel often leads to lost time, stress, and a diminished work-life balance. Given that the average one-way commute for Americans is 26 minutes, commutes can contribute to stress, and decrease motivation and burnout—ultimately affecting job performance.

How to Maintain a Positive Remote Working Environment

Even good things can have their drawbacks. Working in your slippers is wonderful, but comfort sometimes comes at a cost. To take full advantage of all the benefits of remote work, there are some things to consider.

Promote Healthy Work-Life Hours

It can be easy for employees to skip their lunch because they feel comfortable. While this might not be an issue when done on the odd days, when done regularly it can skew the work-life balance. This can trigger poor job satisfaction and burnout, leading to time off. Instead, promote healthy conversation around the need for breaks and how they can be factored into the working day.

Simple ways to have a break from the desk:

• Take 10-minute screen breaks when needed
• Go for a walk at lunch
• Eat your lunch away from the desk

Keep Lines of Communication Open

To prevent anyone from feeling lonely and isolated, remote team communication is a priority. Whether it’s encouraging remote employees to video call 10 minutes each day to have a non-work-related chat or planning weekly manager one-to-ones. If any team member shows signs of becoming distant, try to reach out sooner rather than later to support their mental health.

Acknowledge Temptations

There’s no denying that there are more temptations at home: it’s where we keep all our favorite things after all. It’s okay to enjoy these temptations in small doses and they can be easily factored into the working-from-home life.

• Use the commute time you’ve now got back to watch an episode of your favorite show
• Prep dinner at lunch to save you time in the evening
• Vacuum the living room during a screen break
• Tell friends and family you can meet them as soon as you’ve finished work, now that you don’t need to commute home first

Encourage Employees to Find The Perfect Working Environment

Whether it’s fully remote or hybrid, encouraging the team to find a space that works for them is essential.

If hybrid is an option, ensure employees have a laptop so they can easily move between workstations. If working fully remotely, consider providing each team member with the correct office furniture. A desk, chair, and extra screens (if needed) should be provided to ensure they can do their job to the best standard without being hindered. Don’t forget, the kitchen table is meant for mealtime, not filing reports.

Promote Team Days

WFH doesn’t have to mean never seeing your team in person again. Regular team catch-ups and remote team-building exercises are a good way to keep morale high and teams motivated. If getting together in person isn’t an option, organizing virtual team get-togethers can be a good way to build a positive work environment without breaking the budget.

Embracing Work-From-Home Benefits

Remote and hybrid work models are here and they’re proving very popular. In a recent survey, 76% of respondents said that their companies had made the move to a hybrid working model. There are plenty of reasons for this, and with thoughtful planning, companies and their employees will save money, enjoy greater work-life balance and positively impact the environment.

So next time you’re tempted to groan about another Teams meeting, think of the extra cash this arrangement is putting back in your pocket—and cherish those comfy sweats that would  never  slide in the office.

BambooHR makes it simple whether you’re recruiting remote or hybrid workers. Learn more today!