Workplace flexibility is becoming a higher priority for many employees. That includes men and women. Those with and without children. But is it unrealistic? Is it bad for businesses? No and no.
In a recent post Mom Corps shared the significant cost savings businesses can achieve by allowing employees to work from home (IBM and Sun Microsystems saving tens of millions of dollars). This Stanford study shows it improves employee productivity by 13 percent. Global Workplace Analyticsshares research that companies see an increase in attendance and reduction in attrition when employees are given the option to telecommute. In the accounting world, companies such as Atkinson & Co.and Opsahl Dawson have leveraged technology to provide employees with flexible work options.
In addition to saving the employer, employees save time and money by eliminating or reducing travel to and from work. A worker’s average commute is 45 minutes each day, which costs about $2,600 per year. In addition to the savings, there are health benefits.
Working from home isn’t for everyone, though. So how do you decide if it’s right for you, and how can you succeed at working from home?