New technologies have changed the way we do business. In the 1990s, we were all strapped to our office desks and had only started using mobile phones. Nowadays, our smart phones and tablet devices are with us every step, fostering greater productivity.
Cloud computing is enabling your employees to competently do their jobs from anywhere in the world. They can access important work files and communicate with stakeholders from the comfort of their home.
With this increase in access, what are you doing to help your staff to be more productive? Are you putting systems and policies in place to embrace this cloud computing revolution?
Some organisations are using this to their advantage and encourage their staff to work from home when they need to. The idea is that by giving employees more flexibility, it will enhance productivity.
A study that was posted by Harvard Business Review compared workers at a call centre that worked from home versus those who came into the office and found that at-home workers were happier, less likely to quit and more productive.
The following are three practical examples where it makes sense to let your employees work from home.
Sick day
No one likes people being sick in the office - they spread germs and infect others. But no one likes taking a sick day either because we all have important things to do or have colleagues relying on us.
So why not let these employees work from home? This way, they can focus on getting well so they can return to work in better shape. They can still do many of their work tasks so there are no delays at the office and you reduce the risk of him or her spreading germs, protecting the rest of your employees.
Appointments during the day
Doctors’ appointments, eye exams, haircuts and car services are all things your employees need to do and can only do during business hours. Unfortunately, it’s hard to coordinate a car service during a busy work day - commuting back and forth from the mechanic is difficult.
Why not let your employees work from home that day? This will make it a lot easier on them and means they can spend less time commuting and more time working.
Long commute to work
How long does it take you to get to and from work each day? One hour each way?
That’s two hours every day and 10 hours a week! That can take a toll on your employees. Why not let them work from home once a week and save them that lost time? Most employees will be happy to put that time towards finishing their work. Not only does this increase employee happiness, it also increases their productivity.
Travelling to and from client sites or events
You might have employees that spend a lot of time visiting clients, closing deals offsite or attending work-related events. These employees spend a lot of their day travelling to and from various locations. I challenge you to think about whether they really need to be in the office on those days. What if their home is closer to these appointments? Wouldn’t it make sense for them to just work from home that day?
This will not only save time travelling, but it’s more comfortable for the employee. Your employee can spend more time on doing work rather than travelling.
Win-win for everyone, right?
Happier employees are more productive employees
There are a number of situations where it makes sense to let your employees work from home. I’ve highlighted examples that are beneficial scenarios for both your employee and your organisation.
Cloud computing is enabling a more a productive workforce by allowing employees to work from home. Employees no longer need to be in the office to complete their day-to-day tasks. Cloud services enable your employees to access all your data, systems and emails from any device via the internet.
What’s stopping you from letting employees work from home? I challenge you to trust your employees to manage their work load and be more productive. As long as their tasks are complete, their key performance indicators are high and your stakeholders are happy, what do you have to lose?
Are you interested in moving to the cloud? Call us on 1300 562 886 and we’ll be happy to discuss the best migration options for your organisation.
Related: Happiness can boost employee productivity by 10 percent