Benefits Of Remote Work: 13 Advantages For Employees And Employers

Curious about the benefits of remote work?

You’re not alone.

I recently read a report from the UK Office for National Statistics. They determined that in 2023, 44% of UK workers worked in some form of remote capacity.

This trend is the same in the United States. A Pew Research Center report stated that nearly 22 million US-employed adults work remotely.

But why are so many people, employees and employers, embracing the remote work lifestyle?

It’s all about those sweet, sweet benefits. I’ve been working remotely for years, and honestly, I’ll never return to an office. 

Why? Let me share my list of the epic 13 benefits of remote work, and you’ll understand.

Ready? Let’s roll.

13 Benefits Of Remote Work

Strap yourself in because this will be a deep dive into the advantages of remote work. 

But if you’re in a rush, here’s my list of benefits. It’s perfect if you just want to glance at the advantages of remote work.

Remote work benefits for employees:

1. Flexible work schedules
2. Reduced commuting time and costs
   
3. Improved work-life balance
4. Customisable work environment
5. Increased job opportunities
6. Fewer workplace distractions
7. Healthier lifestyles

Remote work benefits for employers:

1. Access to a wider talent pool
2. Reduced overhead costs
3. Increased productivity
4. Lower employee turnover
5. Enhanced disaster preparedness
6. Lower environmental impact

If you’re not in a rush, check out my deep dive into these advantages. I’ll discuss each in detail and explain why you’re missing out.

7 Benefits Of Remote Work For Employees

Let’s start this list of remote work benefits by looking at employee benefits. I’ve been a remote employee for years, so sharing my first-hand experience with you is easier.

1. Flexible Work Schedules

Remote work often comes with flexible work schedules. Most employers offer remote employees the advantage of setting their own “office” hours.

I’ve done this while working as an Account Manager at Contentellect (a 7-figure remote company Mark (Founder @ Sauce) launched by hiring remote employees.)

I could do it because Contentellect was a remote company with an outcomes-based focus.  But I’m not alone. Here’s another excellent example: My sister.

She works as a remote administrative assistant for an American-based company. But she’s living in sunny South Africa.

She gets to set her own hours, which gives her time to take my nephews to sports and other outings.

The long and short of this remote work benefit is:

Employees feel valued, and this builds trust and commitment. They tend to work harder and complete tasks faster because they can set their hours to when they’re more productive.

They’re also not distracted by personal obligations, meaning they can give work all of their attention. Need further proof?

I found an excellent business case study that explains why companies like Google advocate for flexible work schedules.

It’s not the only study that has revealed how beneficial flexible hours are.

An Atlassian study found that:

• When workers can choose when and where they work, 71% say their team comes up with new ideas, while only 57% say the same without that choice.
• With the option to work flexibly, 83% feel good about their company's culture. However, only 47% feel that way when they can't work flexibly.
• When employees have flexible work options, only 14% feel burned out. This number goes up to 36% when there's no flexibility in their work.

But as much as I love flexible work schedules, they’re nothing compared to my favourite advantage of remote work: no more commuting!

2. Reduced Commuting Time And Costs

I hate commuting. I’ve worked in several countries and cities, from South Africa to Korea, China, and even the United Kingdom.

But one thing, no matter where you are, always stays the same: Commuting is shit. (Pardon my French.)

And I’m not the only one saying this.

The National Institutes of Health found that commuting to work is significantly associated with depression, anxiety, and fatigue. The longer your commute, the worse your mental health.

I’m not surprised.

Luckily, as a remote worker, I no longer have to commute. There are no more transport costs, endless delays, dealing with crowds, or idiots on the road.

These days, my commute looks a bit different.

Here’s how I do it: I get dressed, grab coffee, and walk to the garden. I sip my coffee and enjoy the outdoors. (I’m secretly trying to tame a wild crow in the mornings. It visits me like clockwork.)

After that, I head back inside, switch on my computer, and am ready to tackle the day.

And yes, this brings me to the next benefit of remote work: an improved work-life balance.

3. Improved Work-Life Balance

Gitnux did a survey on work-life balance. What did they find? 

72% of workers think that balancing work and life is very important when picking a job. Also, 57% of people looking for a job say that a bad work-life balance is a dealbreaker.

I am a remote worker, and I agree.

Without the need to commute or strictly adhere to office hours, I get to start my day on a positive note. 

I’m either out in the garden, walking my dog, or grabbing a sneaky Greggs at lunchtime.

The result? I feel motivated and energised to continue my work day. Why? Because I have a healthy work-life balance.

Here’s a pro tip: Use a tomato timer to help maintain that healthy balance. Check out my article on the best remote work tools to learn how I use them daily.

And on the topic of work tools, nothing beats the advantage of customising my work environment.

4. Customisable Work Environment

One of my favourite advantages of remote work is that I get to customise my workspace. I’m a total Star Wars geek, and it’s my desk's theme.

My partner occasionally works remotely, and as a Harry Potter fan she went all magic on her office space.

These are the kinds of things you can’t do if you’re not a remote worker. But there’s more to it than geeking out with your favourite fandom.

A Harvard Business Review report found that remote employees who are satisfied with their work environments are 16% more productive, 18% more likely to stay, and 30% more attracted to their company than competitors.

The result?

All of that comfort increases productivity, which benefits companies and employees. How? My employer benefits from me giving it my best shot.

But I also benefit from increased productivity. I work harder in fewer hours, meaning I get more time to do the things I love.

And here’s another one of my pro tips:

If you’re a remote worker, invest in a quality laptop. That way, you can go out and work anywhere you want.

I often go to new coffee shops to work from. It’s the best.

And if you're tax-savvy, you can even claim some of these office expenses back. That's a win-win in my books.

Of course, working from anywhere in the world brings yet another advantage of remote work: more job opportunities.

5. Increased Job Opportunities

Are you struggling with the local job market? Are there no job opportunities in your area? Local job hunting can be a pain. 

Don’t worry. Once again, remote work comes to the rescue.

Remote work removes geographical barriers. It gives us access to a broader range of job opportunities. And the best part? These jobs aren’t limited by their location.

As a remote worker, I’ve worked with companies in the United States, Switzerland, France, and even South Korea. Those are all fantastic opportunities I would’ve missed if I had to work for a local employer.

And I’m not alone.

Forbes states that remote employees added 2.5 million skilled workers to the labour market. And that’s only in the US.

Do you want to work for any company, anywhere in the world, from anywhere? Then you should find remote work.

6. Fewer Workplace Distractions

Here’s an unspoken truth: corporate offices are filled with distractions.

Fresh out of college, I worked at a local publishing agency. And let me tell you, the amounts of distractions that kept me away from doing my work drove me bonkers.

“Yes, Susan, tell me about your son’s rugby team for the thousandth time.”

“And no, Stew, I don’t want to take a smoke break with you.”

Sound familiar?

It should.

Hubstaff Data found that remote teams allocate 59.48% of their week to “focus time”. This is more than 30 minutes of productive time tracked with little distraction. 

And in-office staff? They could only allocate 48.5% of their week to focus time.

So, how does this benefit us as remote workers?

With fewer office distractions, we get shit done. It also means we get to spend more time living a healthier lifestyle.

7. Healthier Lifestyles

Remote work leads to a healthier lifestyle. Trust me. I’ve seen the changes in myself since I started working remotely.

Because I have more flexibility, no commute, and fewer distractions, I found that:

• My stress levels are a lot lower.
• I get to eat healthy, balanced meals.
• I have more time for my hobbies and interests.
• My relationships with others also improved.

The long and the short? I feel better, look better, and have never been more productive. And it’s not just me that noticed this healthier lifestyle.

Forbes reports that:

• Remote workers are exercising for almost 90 minutes more per week.
• Reduced commutes have led to an extra 71 hours of sleep per year.
• Nearly a quarter of remote workers have lost 20 pounds or more.

So yes, remote work leads to a healthier you. And let’s be honest, who will say no to an extra 71 hours of sleep?

6 Benefits Of Remote Work For Companies

However, remote work doesn’t just have advantages for employees. It also has some excellent benefits for companies.

1. Access To A Wider Talent Pool

Remember when I said that one advantage of remote work is more job opportunities? Well, that’s a benefit that cuts both ways.

Employers benefit from having access to a broader talent pool. With no geographical restrictions, employers can hire talent from anywhere on earth. 

And it comes with some epic benefits, like saving on your wage bill.

Here’s an example:

A project manager in the UK costs nearly £49,000 annually. Due to the exchange rate in South Africa, an equally qualified project manager costs only £15,600.

That’s a massive 68% saving!

Imagine cutting your payroll down while maintaining top-quality staff. But you’re not just saving on your payroll. You're also reducing overhead costs.

2. Reduced Overhead Costs

A remote workforce reduces your overhead costs. I'll explain by running you through an example.

Let’s start by talking about energy bills.

An office for 100 people (7,500 – 9,500 sq ft) would cost about £34,854 annually in energy bills. Just the air conditioning alone could cost up to £10,100 a year. 

A smaller office for 30 people (2,250 – 2,850 sq ft) would cost around £10,423 a year. 

Meanwhile, an even smaller office for 5 people (375 – 475 sq ft) would cost about £3,103 a year just for energy, which is quite a lot!

Hold on to your hats because we’re only talking utilities. What about office furniture?

Hubble reveals an average office desk for one employee costs between £295 and £750. Now you’ve got one desk and utilities sorted. What about rent?

An office for 3 people can set you back £800 monthly.

I don’t think I need to continue, do I? The math is crazy.

It also shows how much money you can save by hiring remote workers.

Here’s my pro tip: If you want to increase your savings and don’t know how to hire remote workers, check out Sauce Remote.

Now that you’ve got access to a broader talent pool and reduced your overheads, what other benefits can your company expect?

3. Increased Productivity

Tech.co reports that 64% of fully remote businesses are highly productive. Traditional businesses? They only managed a 54% productivity level.

In the same report, fully office-based businesses reported the highest levels of low productivity (at only 7%).

The proof is in the numbers.

And if you’re in business, you know the value of productivity is priceless. The more productive your company is, the more money you make. It’s that simple.

Why are remote workers more productive than their office-bound counterparts?

• They deal with fewer distractions.
• They work during peak energy times.
• They have a better work-life balance.
• They’re healthier.

Here’s another personal reason why I think remote workers are more productive. 

I love any employer who allows me to work from wherever I want to. I’m loyal to them and reward them with my best performance. 

Because I’m more loyal to my remote employer, I’m also less likely to jump ship and look for another job.

4. Lower Employee Turnover

A CodeSubmit survey of 1,097 U.S. employees found that companies that allow remote work undergo 25% lower employee turnover than those that don't. 

Why? One reason is that over half (51%) of remote employees do so to improve their work-life balance.

A better work-life balance leads to fewer sick days, higher productivity, and job fulfilment. These are all things that keep employees loyal towards the company.

Let me put it as a more tangible remote work benefit for companies.

Growth Business says, “The true cost of hiring staff is almost double their salary during the first year of employment.”

Remember that UK-based project manager I spoke about earlier? They will cost your company £98,000 during the first year of employment.

That’s a lot of money.

If the employee leaves after one year, it’s back to recruitment, and you lose another £98,000. In this economy, nobody has that kind of money.

It pays to keep your employee turnover as low as possible. And remote work is the secret to keeping that turnover low.

5. Better Disaster Preparedness

In 2023, there was a total of 398 natural disaster events recorded worldwide. The estimated economic loss from natural disasters worldwide was 380 billion U.S. dollars.

And I refuse to talk about COVID-19.

What if your business gets hit by a natural disaster? Will it be the end of your business?

My grandmother always said, “Abie, don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” And putting all your employees in one building is somewhat like putting all your eggs in one basket.

How will your business operate if something happens to the office building or your employees? What if there’s a power failure or other emergencies?

Companies with a remote workforce are better prepared for disasters. Their remote employees can continue to work regardless of what happens to their office building.

Here’s another excellent remote work benefit for companies.

Because your workforce is remote and possibly split across different time zones, your business can operate 24/7.

And more productivity = more money. A win-win, isn't it?

While you're at it, your business will also have a lower environmental impact when it has remote employees.

6. Lower Environmental Impact

One of the undeniable benefits of remote work is reduced air pollution. Yes, by employing remote workers, your company can become more eco-friendly.

With climate change upon us and governments' renewed focus on it, we all have to do our part to save the environment.

How does a remote workforce lower your company’s environmental impact?

• With no daily commutes, there is less air pollution.
• With fewer HVAC systems running in office buildings, we use less energy.
• In the UK, recycling went up during the first lockdown. This fits with previous studies showing people tend to recycle more at home than at the office.

Want your company to be an ambassador for a healthier world? Then, embrace remote staff.

My Final Thoughts

And there you have it. I listed 7 benefits of remote work for employees and 6 advantages for companies.

With these remote work benefits, you’ve got no reason not to join a healthy, balanced lifestyle while making money.