The advantages of working from home are clear when it comes to employees.
You save yourself a commute, there's no real need to get dressed for work, and it might even mean being able to forego the cost of childcare — but what, if any, are the advantages of sending employees to work from home for employers?
According to a study by the Institute of German Economics, there may actually be a reasonable number of benefits for employers as well, with the study strongly suggesting an increase in employee satisfaction and productivity in the long term.
Face-to-face contact has little influence on the control an employer has over their employees
Being in person doesn't seem to massively affect how much control an employer can exert over his or her employees, according to a European Working Conditions Survey, and also seems to have a minimal impact on their productivity.
According to the survey, direct control was a factor in how quickly employees worked for only 2% of participants, whereas 35% said they would set their own pace of work based on the speed of their colleagues.
For about 26%, customer demand was the most important driving factor.
Working from home actually boosts productivity in the workplace
Arguments in favor of working from home don't stop there, as working from home isn't just good for your mood; it also boosts your productivity.
About 60% of the employees who took part in the Institute of German Economics' survey were very satisfied with their job where companies opted for lower levels of control — and, of course, control is much lower when working from home.
Dominik Enste, a researcher involved in the Institute of German Economics' survey said: "Some companies are still afraid of losing control through allowing employees to work from home or are afraid of giving them more flexible working hours — but our study clearly shows that there's no reason for this."
