Due to the events of the last few years, many companies have decided to completely change their working model in favour of something much more flexible, safer and even more comfortable for their workers. All at once, homes have become small offices for many employees and teleworking has gone from being a rarity to commonplace. We now have a world of work in which there is talk of hybrid models combining remote and face-to-face working, as well as professionals who no longer want to return to the office.
Why don't workers want to go back to the face-to-face model? It has been shown that productivity is equal or even greater when a team moves to remote working, as there are plenty of tools to ensure that there are no communication or coordination problems. However, the most attractive aspect for employees is precisely the range of advantages that teleworking has over the face-to-face model.
We will now look at the main advantages of telework over face-to-face work. Given its nature, it is easy to see what its main strengths are for both the worker and the employer. Although there is some small print, which we will talk about later.
It is much easier to reconciling the work and personal side of our lives. Workers spend less time commuting, allowing them to spend more time with family and/or friends, or to enjoy hobbies, or even to carry out household chores. With teleworking, a whole world of possibilities opens up to enjoy more of life outside work. This is also good for the company, as it can keep staff much happier and more satisfied.
Many businesses have committed to 100% for teleworking, which also involves facilitate flexible working hours for workers. It is not necessary to establish a fixed 8-hour working day; in fact, the flexibility that teleworking allows makes it possible to structure the working day differently than usual, allowing it to be better adapted to the needs of each employee. It is true that there need to be common time slots in case there are teams that have to collaborate on a project, but, in general, there are many more options to choose different time slots in which to work. This is unfeasible with the traditional model, due to the office hours.
For the worker, remote working allows him/her to save on the usual travel costs that are usually involved to the workplace, as well as meals away from home. It is true that, when working at home, other additional costs arise, such as extra electricity consumption or even the renewal of equipment for work. However, many companies provide their employees with all the necessary equipment to work at home.he equipment they need to carry out their professional activity at home, This means that there is no real cost. In the end, you get to save more.
Avoiding traffic jams, not having to run for the bus or to avoid missing the metro... These situations, which usually cause stress, disappear with teleworking. This allows the worker to to concentrate more on their work, This guarantees an increase in productivity. In fact, because staff will be happier and more satisfied thanks to this new flexibility, the company's overall performance is likely to increase. It's a win-win situation.
Although it is a ground-breaking model that is here to stay, it also implies changes. To begin with, workers who use this model are not entitled to the same support and benefits as those who work on a face-to-face basis. In fact, they are not eligible for transport allowances, as this is not necessary to get to their place of work. In the case of the hybrid model, there is room for this, as well as for per diems if the company offers such compensation. However, if the model is completely remote, this is automatically ruled out.
Nor should we leave behind the increase in the cost of electricity. Computer equipment is not a major source of electricity consumption, but its constant activity, combined with soaring electricity prices, can leave its mark on the energy bill at the end of the month and, for the moment, there is nothing in place to make companies cover this extra cost that has an impact on the worker's economy.
This does not mean that all these traditional benefits and allowances have to be waived. Some companies have agreements with organisations such as Edenred which allow access to meal vouchers designed for teleworkers, as well as to childcare tickets for children or even to take advantage of flexible compensation. There are limits, of course, but companies are gradually becoming more open to providing support for their remote workers. Support that is, of course, necessary for a pleasant working environment.
