The world events of 2020 may have changed the face of work forever. With half of professionals working from home at least some of the time in 2020, there was a cultural shift away from office spaces. Young professionals moved out of the city centre, as they no longer needed to live within commuting distance of their work desks. And experts say these changes are here to stay.

One big plus point for remote working is that it opens the recruitment pool up to talented individuals across the whole of the UK, rather than within a 30 mile radius. Companies may also find that costs per employee go down, as they pay expenses for setting up a workable home office instead of funding a large, welcoming open space in a pricey central location. As long as your staff have excellent internet connectivity in their own homes, working from home is ideal for both parties. Remote working is here to stay.

With that in mind, the pool of professional social media marketing services and experts just got a lot bigger. Find the freelancer, agency or consultant who is going to take your social media strategy to the next level. 

Cost benefit of remote working

A study found that working from home could result in a cost saving of around £44 per worker per week. This is an average of travel and food expenses, and doesn’t even take into account the savings in time. Instead of up to an hour’s commute each way, your team members can be at their desks ready to work at a moment’s notice, and instead of a hasty jaunt to the nearest local Pret, they can instead eat something wholesome and filling prepared in their own kitchens if they prefer.

There is also a saving to the employer. A significant percentage of cost to the company is premises from which to work. This includes things like rent, electricity, and cleaning. With a reduction in the amount of people coming in to work in an office, these costs will also be saved.

Perhaps you read the statistic that instances of the seasonal flu has dropped by 95% over winter in 2020/21? While the population stays home, there are fewer opportunities for infectious diseases, even mild ones, to spread among our workforce. That could lead to a great saving in time lost to sick days, as even the best offices encourage passing on the cold!

Productivity

Similarly, studies have also found that productivity increases when staff are happier and when they are more comfortable. This can be a direct benefit to your company, as your team will be more productive. Around 65% of workers feel there are fewer distractions in their homes, meaning that they work more effectively; and around 83% said they did not need an office to be productive.

Using a remote social media marketer also makes sense when you think about the kind of work that they will be undertaking. A great social media marketer will spend almost all their time on the internet, using social media channels to promote your company’s image. This means that they can effectively work from anywhere – and means that you can hire the best person for the job, not the best person who lives in your borough!

Helping remote workers

With all this in mind, it’s a good idea to put in some measures for supporting your remote workers. While there are some excellent positives to remote working, there are some simple ways in which you can address any needs.

Investing in excellent technology and ergonomic seating for your staff is a great way to show them you value their work. As an additional plus, it will help them to be more productive: losing working hours to a poor internet connection or old technology hurts everyone.

Another method is by having a way for your team to chat throughout the day. The social aspect of an office helps employees feel as though they are part of a team, and fosters connection and good feeling. Though this is harder to do with a remote team, it isn’t impossible. Ask your social media manager which tools they prefer for remote working, and which they think will best allow your team to chat to each other as the day goes on. This will help with potential loneliness, and also encourage your remote workers to collaborate on projects.

Conclusion

It seems as though remote working is here to stay. With a few sensible adjustments to working life and how you manage your team, you may find that this form of working does wonders for your professional life.

Ask your social media manager to help set up remote working and keep track of employee happiness, and you could see a real boost in both productivity and sales as time goes on!