Is it worth hiring remote employees?

Nowadays, especially after the pandemic, it is increasingly possible to meet those who prefer remote work instead of regular work. However, if you are a business owner or manager, then you know that hiring a remote workforce has its own unique advantages and challenges that should be considered before implementation. 

Hiring a remote work team with Rivermate can save an employer significant costs, but it's not just about saving money, because it can also provide you with a wider selection of talent. And surprisingly, remote work can lead to increased productivity. However, it is important to note that remote work is not suitable for everyone because the lack of control can lead to a loss of motivation among employees. 

Advantages of hiring remote employees 

Many businesses have found that hiring remote employees can have several advantages.  

A larger talent pool 

If you post virtual vacancies, you can attract qualified candidates from all over the world, for example from Albania, who otherwise do not have affordable transportation to your office. 

This can be especially useful if you are targeting a global market or trying to take specialized positions in your organization. 

Savings 

Remote employees save quite a lot of money and this is logical because then there is simply no need for an office, related expenses, and travel expenses. 

Global Workplace Analytics, which analyzes labor market trends and forecasts in the United States, has estimated that companies can save an average of $11,000 per employee per year by allowing them to work remotely for only half of the scheduled time. Most workers will also save between $2,500 and $4,000. 

Higher motivation 

Allowing employees to do at least some of their tasks from home is a sure way to boost morale. A study of the state of remote work conducted by OWL Labs showed that 62% of employees working from home believe that they are more productive and this is natural because they also save money and time, which has a positive effect on their free time and improves their desire to work. 

Fewer unnecessary meetings 

Remote employees spend less time on unnecessary meetings. Poorly planned meetings cost about $400 billion a year due to lost time and productivity. 

Improved performance 

This may come as a surprise, but many companies have found that remote work really improves productivity. So now they prefer to search for the remote employees through the Employer of record. 

A Stanford professor conducted a study of a travel agency that employed more than sixteen thousand people. He divided the staff into two factions: those who worked from home and those who were physically present in the office. 

He found that the remote group reduced staff turnover by 50%, and also provided an increase in productivity equivalent to a full day of additional work. 

Reducing the level of absenteeism 

Companies lose an average of $1,800 per employee per year due to unplanned absences. 

This amounts to almost $300 billion for the entire country. According to the same Global Workforce Analytics report, work-at-home programs can reduce unplanned absences by 63%. 

Good for the environment 

Having a virtual workforce that doesn't require employees to come to the office is one way to make a business more environmentally friendly. In fact, this is one of the most effective steps a business can take to reduce its overall carbon footprint. 

Disadvantages of hiring remote employees 

Despite the many advantages of businesses employing remote workers, there are disadvantages that should be considered. 

Lack of supervision 

When switching to remote work, managers may worry about the lack of responsibility on the part of employees, since they are not so "visible". 

Lack of personal contact 

No matter how effective video conferencing technology becomes, nothing can replace the noise in a room full of enthusiasts working on a common project. The lack of regular face-to-face meetings can lead management to worry that employees are becoming less cooperative or creative. 

It is not suitable for all employees 

Some employees need a traditional office environment to thrive. Successfully managing the transition to remote work requires investing in the tools, mentoring, and resources employees need to work effectively when they are not sitting in the same room with their colleagues and supervisors. 

Initial investment 

Although remote work saves money in the long run, it requires an initial financial investment. To take advantage of remote work, your company's IT infrastructure, security measures, and technology will need to undergo potentially expensive upgrades. 

Monitoring remote work 

Remote employee monitoring is a systematic monitoring method for managing the productivity and efficiency of remote employees. Companies use these tools to better understand their remote workforce, increase employee engagement, and identify performance bottlenecks. 

The software allows you to monitor remote employees as if they were sitting at a nearby table. Simple and accurate time tracking, as well as job verification, will help you ensure that they are performing the duties you hired them to perform. 

This software records and monitors the time that a remote employee spends on a particular task, as well as on meetings with clients. This gives you a clearer idea of what they are doing during their remote work hours. 

Productivity 

Although the figures show that remote employees are much more productive than employees working in the office, some businesses may find that their productivity has decreased after switching to remote work.  

After all, as we said above when employees know that their actions at work are being monitored, they tend to be more attentive to how they use their time while there. However, this problem is easily solved by monitoring through special programs, of which there are a lot on the market, and moreover, such monitoring often turns out to be even more rigorous and accurate.  

By observing the activities of their employees, team leaders can determine who is making the most important contribution to the team, as well as those who are experiencing the most difficulties. This data can be used to ensure that all employees are working towards the same goal, as well as to make more accurate decisions about resource allocation. 

Conclusion 

As you probably already realized, switching to a remote team can be accompanied by its own problems. Fortunately, a huge number of advantages cover these disadvantages and difficulties, and nowadays there are many tools that will help you recreate office conditions in the virtual world.