Workplace flexibility and “work from anywhere” or “work from home” have become critical topics regarding the future of work in this post-pandemic era. One thing that COVID has taught a lot of us is that it is possible to work remotely, and leaders and economists are in an ongoing debate about whether embracing remote work is more beneficial and sustainable in the long run.

But according to studies by several researchers like Gallup, Harvard Business School, Global Workplace Analytics, and Stanford University, among others, there are certain benefits to working from home (or from anywhere) for both employers and employees.

Statistics show that giving employees the option to work remotely…

• improves productivity by 35-40%, with an output increase of at least 4.4%.
• gives employees stronger autonomy (location independence) which improves overall performance by 40%.
• helps improve “work-life balance” and boosts employee engagement, lowering absenteeism and sick leaves by 41%.
• boosts employee loyalty and reduces turnover by 12% in companies that offer remote work agreements.
• Increases a company’s profitability by an average of 21% (or $11,000 annually per part-time remote employee).

Flexibility in working hours and location is becoming a stronger factor in what attracts employees to apply for a job with a specific employer. In fact, 54% of employees agree that they would happily change jobs for one that offers more flexibility.

Why is that?

Our “always-on” culture has taken away a lot of quality time for ourselves and our loved ones. The average American spends 30% of their time at work, and that does not include the time it takes to commute (which is an average of 27 minutes one-way in the US).

Remote work has given our workforce more control over how they spend their time: for exercise, quality time with family, socialization, errands, and other “life stuff” that we all have to deal with.

It has also reduced stress from commuting, and allowed them more time- and money-saving options on where to live, which schools to send their kids to, and when they could travel for leisure. People who have to move frequently (i.e. military spouses), also no longer have to start from scratch in a new company with each move. Work-from-home (or anywhere) options allow people to pursue the career they love without having to move to (or near) a metropolitan area.

Overall, it improves the mental, physical, and social health of our employees. And by decentralizing the place where they need to work, businesses are able to embrace inclusivity as well as scale easily globally. It helps our employees focus on what matters and promotes a happier and healthier work and personal life.

Digital technology has helped make our people more productive, efficient, and accessible, and this flexibility to work from home has shown a lot of potential in terms of sustainability and scalability in the long run.