Following government guidance in 2020, 60% of people moved to remote working during the first lockdown, many of which are likely to have continued to do so. Since then, 57% of British workers want to have the option of working from home, and companies that haven’t previously offered remote IT jobs, have now seen the benefits both for the business and employees and are more open to offering it as an option.
Some of the benefits of remote IT jobs for employees include:
1. Better work-life balance
Remote working makes it easier to achieve a better work-life balance, as it allows employees to fit personal commitments around their working day. For example, rather than spending the morning commute to work, you could go for a morning run. Or in your 5-minute break, you could put a wash on. Being able to slot these simple tasks into your working day can improve your work-life balance and in turn improve your mental and physical wellbeing.
However, some people find it more difficult to achieve a work-life balance when remote working, read our article on 10 tips for better work-life balance in remote IT jobs.
2. No commute
For many people, the lack of a commute is one of the best things about remote working. Not only does it save employees money for travel, but it also saves time in the morning and after work. Employees can have a stress-free morning, void of traffic jams and delayed trains, which might all otherwise add to the stress of their day. Another positive of companies offering remote IT jobs is that employees can look further afield for job roles rather than within a certain mile radius, therefore opening them to more opportunities.
3. Cost saving
Depending on the choices you make, you can save a lot of money in a remote IT job. Commuting costs are often the main source of outgoings if you travel into the office. Often when employees head into the office, they are also more likely to go out for lunches, pick up a coffee, or even go out for after-work drinks therefore cutting out these habits can save you a lot of money overall.
4. Improved wellbeing
Work can cause significant stress on people’s mental and physical wellbeing. With the option to work remotely, people are able to better manage and improve their wellbeing. This could be from avoiding the stressful commute, taking a lunch break in the comfort of your own home, or being able to use your lunch break for a walk outside, to even running some errands that you wouldn’t be able to do if you were in the office.
It is also up to employers to introduce wellbeing programmes that can work remotely, whether that’s offering regular one-to-one catchups, encouraging rest breaks and boundaries and setting agreed and realistic goals.
5. Increased productivity
According to Finder, 65% of workers said they would be more productive in a home office than in a normal office, and 75% of these workers say they will be more productive due to reduced distractions.
One of the biggest worries for employers offering remote work is that they won’t be able to trust their employees to get the work done. However, when employees feel trusted, they feel valued and therefore would be more engaged in their work making them more productive. Companies should already feel confident enough in who they have hired, entrusting them to get on with their responsibilities.
A recent study has revealed that the IT and tech industry is the UK’s best industry for remote working and therefore remote IT jobs will be on the rise. Almost all IT jobs can be done remotely, so whether you are looking for a remote software developer job or a remote IT support job, we have thousands of remote IT job opportunities available online.