Are you still stuck at your company’s offices or have you managed to make the shift to a remote operation like a growing number of employees around the world? Sure, remote work is no news, but with COVID-19 still up and running high, an increasing number of companies are endorsing this concept, and for a stack of good reasons. Not only is home-based work more popular than ever among employees, but it also entails a tremendous amount of benefits for businesses.
Judging by the figures, it seems that brands really have nothing to lose by transitioning to the remote work agenda, and employees can only gain from such developments. Here are five key benefits that the switch to the no-commute work agenda can bring to your company and help your brand make a contribution to the global sustainability movement.
Reduced greenhouse gas emission
Up until very recently, employees had to travel to and from work every day, but the rise of remote work has successfully made this hassle obsolete. Luckily for Planet Earth, the no-commute work agenda entails lower greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn translates to cleaner air and reduced need for other traffic-related problems. With employees working from home, there is much less pollution on the part of the businesses and more time for employees to rest – a win-win scenario for both the environment and all the links in the corporate chain.
Reduced plastic usage rates
In addition to lower greenhouse gas emissions, remote work also entails a drop in usage of plastic containers and bottles which employees would otherwise use during their work hours in company offices. By minimizing the time spent in the office, your company will effectively slice the use of plastic and reduce its carbon footprint at the same time.
You can also introduce a policy to win over workers to recycle plastic and paper in their own homes in exchange for bonuses and symbolic awards. By doing this, you will surely earn the mark of an industry leader in the area of sustainability, which is a rather prestigious title to have in the increasingly competitive market these days.
A global pool of job candidates
Now that companies have transitioned to the remote work formula, it has become much easier to identify talent and recruit the best workers for your business. With a wide range of online tests at the disposal of HR teams, hiring the right candidates has become faster and more reliable. On top of that, collaboration with a recruitment agency or a professional global employer of record can facilitate identification of talent in a substantially larger labor market, which entails better chances of success and reduced carbon footprint for brands in the long run as job hopefuls will be able to complete all tests virtually.
Lower office paper waste
With more and more employees working remotely, office paper waste will soon have a chance to become a thing of the past. This is excellent news for the planet. The need for paper waste management will drop significantly as the paperless office concept is gaining more ground. In addition to reduced use of paper at work, switching to online storage solutions will also decrease your energy expenses and reduce your carbon footprint.
Remote work has a big positive effect on saving paper–digital filing, signatures, and bills have finally become mainstream in everyday office life due to the decentralized nature of remote work.
Improved air quality
With a lower number of commuters, not only will there be fewer cars on the road, but this will also help improve air quality and that’s one of the greenest moves your brand can make to tilt the global scale to eco-friendly. The improved air quality will in turn trigger a drop in acid rain, haze, and ozone depletion, all of which will have a positive impact on the environment as a whole. For an even greener twist, the remote work policy will also attract an increased number of green-minded job candidates, thus allowing you to both promote your brand and have a better choice of hopeful employees whose interests fit your brand’s environmental strategy.
Wrapping up
Sustainability is all the rage in the global corporate arena nowadays, and it’s for the common good. By endorsing the remote work agenda, your business will manage to contribute to the reduction of air pollution and improvement of air quality, as well as lower plastic and paper usage and access to a wider pool of job candidates. All of these gains are a reason why you should take non-commute work into serious consideration and make the green switch to a mode of operation which will prove far more productive down the road. Good luck!
