Last week, we discussed the benefits to employees of working from home, including the ability to focus on work without the distractions of an office environment. Working from home can also increase job satisfaction as employees feel the health benefits of a more balanced work life. Employees who work from home have eliminated one of life’s biggest stressors by not having to commute to work. Especially in the Bay Area, where getting to work seems to take longer than ever, eliminating the commute means more hours of productive work and much less stress from sitting in traffic.
Telecommuters also have an easier time staying healthy by eating a healthier diet and maintaining better balance between their work and home lives. A study done by Staples found that employees who work from home experienced 25% less stress and reported they were able to maintain better work-life balance. They also reported being able to eat healthier when working from home and had higher job satisfaction.
The ability to have a more flexible workday is another big benefit to employees. If they are not constrained by the 9 to 5 schedule of an office environment, they can run an errand or take a walk, then return to their work with more focus and without sacrificing productivity. Since they are working from home, telecommuters can complete tasks outside the regular office work hours.
For employees who must travel to an office, cutting out the commute can make a huge difference in their stress levels and overall health. This makes for happier employees and a more productive workday.
