Remote work is fast on the rise for all types of businesses, and is gaining steam in the non-profit world as well. In fact, the number of nonprofit employees working remotely grew by 8.3% in 2015 and 43% of nonprofits now have a telecommuting policy. This increase is due to shifting employee expectations for better work-life balance and increased flexibility, as well as the availability of modern technology tools to support remote workers, such as video conferencing, chat messaging, cloud services, task management tools, and mobility solutions for business phones.
However, the remote work trend isn’t just a boon to employees. Nonprofits can also benefit from the remote work trend, in the 5 following ways:
1. Improved Employee Satisfaction
Several recent studies have come to the conclusion that remote work leads to happier, less stressed employees. Flexible work options lets employees better balance their work and home lives, saving on stressful commute times and being able to focus more on their family and well being. 82% of surveyed employees reported lower stress levels and 80% reported higher morale when working from home.
2. Improved Recruitment and Retainment
33% of nonprofits report that “hiring” is the biggest staffing challenge they face. Remote work means that organizations can recruit and hire from a broader talent pool of candidates, unconstrained by geographical limitations. Additionally, flexible work is considered a crucial job perk by younger job seekers, with 74% of Millennials wanting flexible work schedules and 63% saying they’re more likely to join a company that offers the option to telecommute. Additionally, studies show that remote workers are 50% less likely to quit, likely due to improved satisfaction as noted in #1 above.
3. Improved Productivity
Multiple studies have shown that remote work aids productivity due to less distraction and more focus, as well as less lost time. Working from home provides a quieter, more controlled environment than an open office full of chatty colleagues and impromptu meetings. 91% of remote workers believe they “get more work done when working remotely while 86% of employees surveyed said they preferred to work alone to “hit maximum productivity”. Additionally, flexible work reduces absences due to inclement weather, appointments, and sick days, as employees can work from home instead of taking the whole day off.
4. Go Green
Allowing for remote work can help reduce an organization’s carbon footprint. Not only does it decrease fuel consumption due to reduced commuting, but it but it also encourages digital file sharing over paper use.
5. Reduced Overhead
Organizations that allow full-time remote work can often reduce their office space square footage needs, while having less people in the office also leads to reduced energy use and reduced use of office resources such as printing, document shredding, janitorial services, coffee and water consumption, furniture, and transit and parking subsidies.
If your non-profit is thinking about allowing remote work options, Allied can help you provide your remote workers with the technology tools they need for success.
