Remote work brings various benefits to employers. And many of these advantages directly contribute to attracting and retaining top talent. This article looks at the main remote work benefits for your talent strategy.
There’s a saying, “Change is the only constant in life“, and we’ve all witnessed the truth of these words over the last couple of years. Of course, I’m referring to the pandemic and the changes it brought to a global workforce and the ways we look at our jobs and work environments.
People are becoming increasingly aware of various work options, particularly remote work and the benefits it can provide. And by “people”, we don’t just mean job seekers.
Remote work offers significant advantages for companies too. It enables you to attract and retain top talent while ensuring higher productivity and better results.
Remote work benefits for your talent strategy
Here are some top ways remote work can improve your talent strategy and benefit your business.
Expand the talent pool
Embracing remote work allows businesses to remove geographic boundaries when hiring talent. Hires can come from anywhere in the world, giving you a better chance of finding people with the relevant skills.
On the other hand, traditional office working arrangements can attract only those who live locally or are able to move nearby.
Enhance inclusivity
This one comes from the opportunities that the wider talent pool provides. Simply, you’re opening the company’s doors to more people, including those who might find the traditional work environment challenging due to disabilities or other personal circumstances.
Additionally, various backgrounds contribute to your teams’ creativity and overall results. People from different cultures and social settings can provide unique ideas, creating a perfect blend of variety a modern business needs for success.
Attract top talent
People prefer remote work. According to a recent report, 82% of people prefer working from home over traditional options. It’s clear that when today’s top talent is looking for jobs, remote work is one of the most desirable advantages businesses can provide.
This is especially true for tech companies that started adopting remote work even before the pandemic. So, to leverage your talent strategy and be competitive in the job market, you must embrace remote work or, at the very least, hybrid work, where teams have more control over when they come to the office.
Increase retention
Remote work not only attracts top talent but also helps you retain them for the long term. This is due to the fact that flexible working arrangements allow people to handle life events (such as moving or becoming a parent) without changing jobs.
As a result, many common causes for employee turnover don’t apply in a remote work context. You can keep teams longer, reduce the need to train new hires frequently, and foster a culture of loyalty and belonging.
Have happier teams
Working remotely can boost team happiness by up to 20%! But you don’t need stats to know that — it’s as clear as day that people perform better when they’re in good spirits. For your teams, remote work means less commuting, more time with friends and family, more physical activity, and healthier food options.
Simply said, remote work supports your team’s work-life balance by giving them more time for leisure activities and caring for their well-being. As a result, people are more productive, less stressed, and eager to put more effort into achieving results for the company. This contributes significantly to your talent strategy, assuring high retention and engagement.
Quick tips for successful implementation
Remote work do’s and don’ts:
- Set clear expectations ― It’s crucial to clearly define goals, obligations, and tasks for remote teams. The structure and guidelines will lead to more productive work while providing clear insights into the team’s performance.
- Avoid micromanagement ― As an employer, you can’t and shouldn’t constantly monitor your teams. Instead, you must foster a culture of trust, encouraging people to openly share work issues with team leaders and contribute to the company’s success.
- Prioritize communication ― Communicate clearly and consistently with your teams. Some good practices include determining primary communication channels (e.g. Slack or Zoom), having regular team meetings, and limiting the number of emails to avoid overwhelming inboxes.
- Praise good work ― Recognizing people’s efforts is vital in all work environments but especially critical in remote working. Therefore, dedicate portions of meetings to recognize your team’s accomplishments. This will increase people’s sense of contribution, boost their morale, and make you stand out as an employer who genuinely sees and supports the people.
Getting the most out of remote work
Remote work has many benefits for your talent strategy ― from providing a wider talent pool to attracting top talent and keeping them happy and productive.
However, to truly get the most out of this practice, it’s crucial to take a proactive approach. Collect feedback from your teams and collaborators who work remotely, and look for ways to continually improve your remote work strategy.
This way, embracing remote work and trying to improve it positions you as a desirable employer. It reflects your readiness and ability to adapt to change, giving you a competitive advantage in the modern job market.
