The remote workforce has grown by leaps and bounds in the past few years, particularly in 2020. There are many advantages to employees having employees work remotely, but like anything, there are also drawbacks. Here are 10 reasons having office space available to employees is beneficial to them and your business.

Fewer Distractions

Whether it’s chores, children, pets, or a significant other who is also working from home, few people have a home office free from distractions. An outside-the-home office space available for employees can be a welcome escape when there is a looming deadline or a project that requires a lot of focus.

Collaboration

Yes, teams can accomplish collaboration virtually, but there is no substitute for an in-person brainstorming session. Being around peers sparks creativity and efficient problem-solving.

Mentorship

Professional development can be challenging when working from home. It’s difficult for employees to grow when they aren’t around mentors and other skilled professionals they can learn from.

Resource Availability

One-third of employees have reported not having adequate resources to successfully work from home. Some reported an absence of designated office space, insufficient access to technology and lack of readily available IT support and services.

Benefits Company Culture

Company culture suffers when employees only interact through virtual meetings and email. Work behaviors and habits are tough to model in a remote environment and conveying expectations to employees via email isn’t always effective. Establishing meaningful relationships and obtaining an understanding of how a work team functions is almost impossible for new employees who are working remotely.

Provides Social Interaction

63% of workers spend less time socializing with their colleagues while exclusively working from home. Many employees have expressed feelings of loneliness working remotely and a negative impact on their mental health.

Improved Communication

Advances in technology make remote work possible through apps like Slack and Teams, but even the most connected coworkers experience struggles with communicating virtually. It can be easy to overlook an email, resulting in important items falling through the cracks.    

Leaving Work at Work

A work-life balance is important for everyone, and while remote work can help promote this balance it can also hinder it. When you work from home, you never leave the office the office, resulting in many employees having a difficult time leaving work at work at the end of the day. It’s easier to avoid burnout and overworking when employees have the option to work from a professional space outside of the home.

Fewer Meetings

A recent survey found that 38% of employees report feeling mentally exhausted after a week of virtual meetings. Virtual meetings tend to be shorter than in-person meetings, but they also occur much more frequently. Providing office space for in-person meetings is ideal for decreasing the frequency of draining virtual meetings.

Anxiety over Performance

Remote workers are finding that they feel uncertain about their work performance and that they need to prove to their employers they are working hard from home. Being around team members who can provide feedback helps employees feel more confident and produce better results. 

More employers are choosing e|spaces to provide their teams with a professional office space. Whatever your needs, we have a variety of coworking, office and meeting room spaces available to equip your team for success at a fraction of the cost of traditional office spaces. You’ll also enjoy the added benefit of networking with other professionals, creating new opportunities for your business. Our memberships include wifi and IT support, 24/7 access, free parking and coffee. Visit espaces.com to book a tour at a location near you.