In recent years, we’ve seen an enormous increase in the number of people working from home or in hybrid work environments. While at first this was seen as a temporary trend catalyzed by the pandemic, it’s become increasingly clear that remote and hybrid workplaces are here to stay – demand for jobs with the option of working remotely is at an all-time high.
What’s also becoming clear is that this shift toward more flexible working environments is driving productivity increases for companies that embrace it. Here’s why.
One rather obvious factor is that workers are simply spending less time traveling to and from the office and more time focused on getting their work done. While this does account for some of the difference, it’s not the full picture.
Employees are also able to transition between different kinds of tasks more effectively with fewer distractions. Remote employees report that they experience fewer interruptions throughout the day when working from home compared to the office for certain tasks.
Not every employee has access to a distraction-free workspace in their homes. Children, pets, or basic lack of space can be counter-productive for certain kinds of work. A hybrid workplace gives you and your employees the flexibility to schedule their workday around what’s best for them.
If an employee has a quiet room at home to work in, they may choose to work on tasks that require focus and concentration there. If they are working on something that needs collaboration from other co-workers, they may choose to come into the office. The freedom to structure their time based on their particular needs means higher quality of work output in less time.
The freedom to choose the most effective place to get work done is enormously beneficial for an employee’s mental health. How long have we been sitting in meetings only to ask “Couldn’t this have just been an email?” The shift to tele-conferencing has meant fewer of these types of interactions for many people.
The hybrid workspace has also allowed night owls the freedom to do their work not just where they want, but when they want. People who work best in the late afternoon or evening can now, in many cases, make that choice without disrupting the rest of their team.
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