How Employers Can Support Employees Working from Home
According to Upwork, an American freelancing platform, 41.8% of the American workforce currently works from home. It’s estimated that around 26.7% of these remote workers will not return to the office this year. By 2025, it’s expected that 36.2 million Americans, or 22% of the entire American workforce will be working from home. This represents an 87% increase in the number of remote workers since before the pandemic.
Although working from home provides a convenient option for many employees, it creates challenges as well. Employees working from home can feel disconnected from the workplace. It’s crucial that employers do all they can to keep company culture alive and support employees working from home. This not only benefits the employee, but the organization as a whole. When employees feel supported and connected to company culture, they become more productive.
Flexible Hours
Many employees find it difficult to balance their work and personal life when working from home. Allowing employees to set their own hours puts them in control. Offering flexible hours allows employees to make the most of their day and work around other schedules. This soft benefit costs employers absolutely nothing but provides significant benefits.
Face-to-Face Time
Employees are happier at their jobs when they get along well with their co-workers. A study conducted by Gallup, an American analytics and advisory firm, found that work friendships boost employee satisfaction by as much as 50%. Another study found that women that have a best friend at work are 63% more likely to engage fully in their work.
While many employers understand the importance of friendships and comradery in the workplace, working from home doesn’t create the type of environment where employees can foster friendships. Employers can encourage employees to stay connected through regular face-to-face meetings in-person or over video conferencing software. To ensure the best results, employers need to keep these sessions purely social.
Health Insurance Benefits
Many employees worry about paying for medical expenses for themselves and their loved ones. This is especially true now, as COVID-19 continues to threaten the health and safety of Americans. Offering employees health insurance benefits ensures employees receive the care they need. This can reduce stress and make employees more satisfied with their job.
Lifestyle Benefits
In addition to health benefits, many employers have started offering lifestyle benefits to remote workers as well. Popular benefits include gym memberships, fitness-related expense reimbursements, education, and childcare. Employers often choose to provide a monthly allowance for employees to use to pay for certain expenses.
Employee Benefits Specialists
Employers have a lot to consider when deciding how best to support their employees. MEBO works directly with employers to help them develop a comprehensive employee benefits plan that fits their needs and budget. Please contact us to schedule a consultation.
