New Research Confirms Virtual Work Increases Employee Productivity
A recent study reported on by the Harvard Business Review has confirmed what most of us already know: Working at home boosts productivity among workers.
Staff at Chinese travel center Ctrip were given the opportunity to work from home for a period of 9 months. The study broke employees into two groups, keeping half of workers in the office, and allowing the other half to work from home.
The findings of the study astounded even the researchers, who already strongly suspected positive results in terms of productivity. Results were measured both by self-reporting as well as by objective measures such as cost-savings and productivity levels.
Here is what the study revealed among the 50 percent of workers who worked from home:
- $1,900 savings per employee over the 9-month period
- 13.5 percent more calls completed
- Significant decrease in number of sick days
- Far lower attrition rates
- Self-reported increased job satisfaction
The researchers warn business owners, however, that working from home may not be ideal for all types of workers in all industries. As the workers in this study were self-selected -- meaning they had the choice whether to work from home or in the office -- this group would consist of motivated individuals with a vested interest in making the study work.
Researchers also suggest that certain demographics will generally prefer having a work at home option, while others will prefer (and will perform more productively) working onsite. While parents and older workers will often prefer to work from home, younger workers who rely on an office environment as part of their social life will often prefer working onsite.
CEOs: We’re More Concerned About Collaboration Than Productivity
A common concern among business owners considering instituting a work at home option is the potential for decreased levels of communication and collaboration among workers.
You may recall Yahoo Chief Executive Marissa Mayer’s much-publicized ban on working from home. However in defense of her decision, she indicated in a Fortune interview it wasn’t productivity that was a concern for her so much as decreased communication.
“People are more productive when they’re alone … they’re more collaborative and innovative when they’re together. Some of the best ideas come from pulling two different ideas together.”
Business executives have a unique set of tools to serve a unique set of requirements, which assist with collaboration at the executive level. Some of these tools even facilitate mobile collaboration of executive decision-making. For example, ClickMeeting is an online videoconferencing platform that allows executives to meet face-to-face, even while thousands of miles apart.
Tools to Facilitate Virtual Collaboration
While executives have their own set of tools, so do employees. Productivity concerns, while legitimate, may be minimized or even avoided with some careful planning and appropriate implementation of tools meant to increase collaboration among at-home staff.
Here are 4 tools business executives can use to manage ideas, work, and staff remotely:
Businesses are increasingly using Google Hangouts not only for connecting with customers, but for holding meetings, sharing documents, and even for holding virtual office hours. Work or decisions that may require "back and forth" interactions may prove more effective using Hangouts, relieving some of the worry business owners may feel about letting staff work from home.
2. Basecamp
Basecamp or other online project management software allows workers to collaborate on specific projects in a centralized online environment. The software allows for open discussion among team members, task assignment, and easy access and updates to projects.
3. Dropbox
Designed for easy and painless file sharing, Dropbox allows virtual workers to share documents, and means every person on the team has access to the newest and most up-to-date data. It also shines when it comes to data backup, meaning at-home workers (and CEOs) won’t need to worry about losing important information.
4. Join.me
For times when explaining a problem or technical issue over the phone or via email just won’t cut it, Join.me offers easy screen-sharing capabilities among workers. Ideal for collaborative projects or tasks, screen-sharing software allows up to 10 employees at a time to share screens and work together on projects.
While managing a virtual team isn’t without its difficulties, research points again and again to increased worker satisfaction and productivity. While decreased communication and collaboration can be a downside to managing a virtual team, using online tools can help decrease their impact and make sure your work-at-home team functions as effectively as possible.
