By Laurie Kahn
Special to RBR+TVBR
While many of us are unsure what the future holds, one thing is certain. For many Americans, they prefer to work from home.
Many of the positions at a radio station have now proven to be able to work successfully on a remote basis—definitely those in sales, if the right tools, processes, and procedures are in place. In the past, many managers required sellers to be in the office at 7:30am and again at 5pm. For those in large cities, with high commutes, it was a waste of time. If those employees had been allowed to work some of that time from home, they could have been much more productive.
How realistic is it that more people will work from home once the pandemic concludes?
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Between 2005 and 2017, there was an increase of 159% in people working remotely. Some 3.2% of the entire U.S. workforce prior to COVID-19 worked outside of the office, with 18% of those working full time.
According to Flex Jobs, 80% of U.S. workers would turn down a more prestigious job to be allowed flexibility. Many feel that this is the most desirable benefit that a company can offer. Bill Gates insists that one perk which is key to a company’s future is offering flexible time. Is this something you should consider? I think so.
With revenue down, radio operators are looking at ways to cut expenses. What better way than to cut down on office space? If people are staggered when they are in the office, you can cut down on desk space and set up more shared areas. It will be important to have a conference area where all can get together for meetings and some smaller spaces for privacy. There are more savings in phone lines, office supplies, refreshments and more.
According to PGI News, in 2018 there was an estimated $5 billion in cost savings for U.S. companies that allowed remote work. They state that real estate alone is $10,000 per employee.
Does it work? Some 85% of companies who allow remote workers confirm they have seen increased productivity since implementing work at home policies. Why is this? Having flexibility or the ability to work when able, people feel more loyalty to their employers. They do not feel guilty if they need to see a doctor or visit a child’s teacher during the workday. They often end up putting in more hours and feel more productive than they were at the office with all the ongoing interruptions. It increases moral and decreases stress, it allows the worker to be more in control of their life balance. And, the employee can save money.
Workers with flexibility are 57% more likely to be satisfied with their job vs. those
that have none. Companies who embrace this benefit enjoy reduced cost of employment, less turnover, fewer sick days, and increased employee retention. As we continue to strive to add more Millennial and Gen Z workers to our teams, this is an excellent benefit to offer. If you are a company who can offer this, you will vastly increase the amount of and the
quality of people applying for your open positions.
The COVID pandemic has changed life for many, this is a positive one that can help many companies grow while saving costs.
Laurie Kahn is the President/CEO of Media Staffing Network and founded the company in 1993. After successfully placing people since 1993, Laurie has re-engineered the firm to primarily handle full-time placements in all media, in addition to specialized training in how to hire and retain more effectively.