Are Remote Workers More Productive Than In-Office Workers?

The idea of working from home has only become a reality in the last decade. As technology changes and the internet becomes more widely available, people are easily able to work from home in many different career fields.

Making the leap from working in an office to working from home is a big one. There are countless changes to get used to. It makes people wonder if they’ll be as successful from home as they are at an office building.

Whether you’re thinking about jumping into a work from home position or you just want to learn more about it, read on to find out if remote workers are more productive than in-office workers. The studies behind remote jobs may end up surprising you.

They Take Fewer Sick Days

The first benefit people notice when they work from home is that there’s no worry about using time off for sick days. While it’s still important to rest when you’re ill, the common cold won’t have to be a reason to use up vacation time anymore.

Taking fewer sick days means that people who work from home have the opportunity to accomplish more when they decide it’s not necessary to take time off to heal.

Another reason remote workers don’t take as many sick days is that they live and maintain healthier lifestyles that boost their immune system. They have more time to work out and eat healthier, which makes it easier not to get sick.

They’re More Engaged in Meetings

Organizations in 2021 were forced to make drastic changes due to COVID-19. One such change was moving in-person events and meetings online, a big shift from the typical face-to-face business interaction that most employers are used to.

Virtual events were reported at an all-time high, with 52% of organizations seeing the same or more attendance than they’d expect at an in-person event. In addition, larger meetings can easily be held, which fosters participation througout a company and across teams as opposed to in-person meetings.

They’re Less Stressed

Consider what stresses you out about an office job. You have to hope your commute is easy every day even though you drive during rush hour. You interact with other coworkers who may take their own stress out on you. Then there are the noises of the office like ringing phones and tense conversations that naturally build up your stress.

The meta-analysis of forty-six studies that contained nearly 13,000 employees found that telecommuting alone increased their daily stress and made them less satisfied with their job. Remote workers don’t have to deal with that.

People who work from home can also remove any reoccurring distractions that might make them more stressed, like music they don’t enjoy. Lowering your stress is easy to do when you work from home and makes your work life much more enjoyable.

They Take Hold of Their Independence

Most remote workers are the kind of people who thrive when they work independently. Working from home allows them to set their own schedule, which is invaluable.

Without needing to wait for team members to find a good time to meet or put off work until a conference room opens up, remote workers are able to jump right into their projects. There are no errors that result from miscommunication or team members slacking off.

Another reason why seventy-seven percent of remote workers report being more productive when they’re not at the office is because they can start the day whenever they want. If they know they’re likely to get tired in the afternoon as many people do, they can start working as soon as they wake up. That allows for more time to be productive and the bonus of clocking out early.

Not sure if you’d be able to start early? No worries. Forty-six percent of remote workers maintain normal working hours and still keep up their productivity.

They’re Much Happier

When remote workers feel less stressed, they naturally feel happier. Happy employees reach higher productivity goals than unhappy employees. People who are happy to get back to work will take pride in what they do. That results in not only more work, but also higher quality work.

Remote employees have been found to experience more workplace happiness that translates into valuing their job and the work that they do. It’s another factor that leads to remote employees getting more work done in a day than traditional employees.

Are Remote Workers More Productive? Yes.

Ultimately, studies consistently prove that remote employees are more productive because they work from home. At the same time, the success of a remote worker depends on their personality.

Do you consistently check off your to-do list when it’s just you on the weekends? Have you always had a strong sense of drive that kept you on track in school, without reminders from teachers? Do you catch yourself itching to do more throughout the day?

If your answers are yes, then you’re most likely a good fit for remote work. Take a look at the job market to see what telecommuting jobs are available for your expertise. That may be the next step down your career path.