Although some companies disparage the very idea of remote work, it can’t be denied that telecommuting holds tremendous appeal to members of the workforce. In fact, with many businesses now requiring employees to return to the office, the effects working remotely have had on many of us are becoming increasingly apparent. For example, a fair percentage of workers now claim that they’d sooner quit their jobs than return to formal workplaces. If you’re intrigued by remote work and think you could benefit from telecommuting, consider the following arguments when making your case to the relevant parties.
Heightened Productivity
Many companies and individual business owners are opposed to remote work because they believe it hampers productivity. To a point, this rationale is understandable. After all, if someone spends their workdays surrounded by various creature comforts, it stands to reason that they would frequently get distracted from their job duties. As it turns out, however, this fear is very much unfounded. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was found that remote work actually heightens productivity instead of hindering it.
There are a variety of reasons for this. For starters, when granted the privilege of working from home, people don’t have to waste time on the needless formalities associated with formal workplaces. They don’t have to get up at uncomfortably early times, suffer through congested commutes or navigate awkward office politics – they’re free to simply focus on their work. Furthermore, working from home enables people to complete tasks and assignments on their schedule (while continuing to meet deadlines, of course), which helps alleviate a good chunk of work-related stress.
In addition to increasing productivity, remote work also provides people with more personal time. If you finish your work quota for the day early while working in an office, you generally need to spend the remainder of the day looking busy, as most businesses don’t allow productive employees to leave early just because they have nothing remaining in their inboxes. Conversely, when working remotely, meeting your quota early means the rest of the day is yours, thereby providing you with incentive to put your best foot forward on a daily basis.
Protection from Illness
Even outside of the COVID-19 pandemic, working from home can prove particularly beneficial to employees who suffer from compromised immune systems or live with people who do. The less time these individuals spend in crowded spaces, the fewer opportunities they have to catch viruses. So, if you or any member of your household is immunocompromised, don’t hesitate to bring this to the attention of your employer. Even if they’re convinced that remote work is a hindrance to productivity, you’re bound to be more productive working from home than being sick in bed.
Needless to say, immunocompromised individuals need to exercise a heightened degree of caution for as long as the novel coronavirus remains an active threat. So, if your place of business isn’t requiring employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19, make it known that you don’t feel safe in your current workplace.
Doctor’s Recommendation
Even if you have a compromised immune system, your employer may not take this claim seriously unless it’s backed up by a physician. So, if your place of business requests that you provide proof of your condition, take care to reach out to a doctor posthaste. Not only can a physician provide your employer with the proof they seek, they can also make a professional recommendation that you be allowed to operate from home.
If you’re unable to make a timely appointment with your regular physician – or you lack a regular physician – consider arranging an appointment with a remote physician through Plushcare.
There’s a lot to be said for working from home. In addition to saving employees from the general drudgery of office life, remote work has been shown to increase both productivity and worker satisfaction. Additionally, as a growing number of companies have come to discover throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing employees to work remotely can effectively slow the spread of the novel coronavirus – not to mention other highly contagious viruses. As such, any member of the workforce who’s interested in telecommuting should remember the previously discussed arguments when running their idea by their bosses.
