Should I Hire Remote Employees? The Pros and Cons
In the wake of the Covid pandemic, many companies shifted to a remote setup where employees could work from home. Some companies, seeing the benefits of this setup, decided to stay that way even after the pandemic. But is hiring remote employees really worth it?
Hiring remote employees can have a number of benefits for companies. Remote employees have been found to be more productive in their work tasks since they are free of distractions. And unlike in a traditional office setup, you can get measured results through the use of technology and software.
Continue reading to find out the pros and cons of hiring remote employees.
Remote Hiring: What is It and How It Works
Remote hiring, sometimes known as remote recruiting, is the process of recruiting and hiring candidates for open positions in your company from afar through the use of electronic means.
The primary difference between regular hiring and remote hiring is that the latter will have the new employee working from home.
They could be remote workers who operate out of their homes or from shared office spaces or reside in foreign countries. In some cases, like with international hires, the company and the remote worker may never even meet in person.
Pros & Cons of Hiring Remote Employees
In this section, we compare the pros and cons of remote hiring so you can make an informed decision for your business.
Pros of Remote Hiring
The advantages of remote hiring are as follows:
Boost in Productivity
Many businesses are reluctant to take on remote workers due to the underlying belief that they will be less productive. Surely employees won’t put in as much time at their desks if no one is watching them? The evidence suggests otherwise.
One study, for example, found that remote and hybrid employees were 4% more productive than their in-office peers. In addition, those who were allowed complete freedom over their working hours had a 29% increase in productivity.
In simple words, this means that giving employees the freedom to set their own schedules and work from home could lead to a dramatic increase in productivity for your company.
According to some other statistics, 40 percent of workers put in more hours when they did their jobs from home. These new, longer workdays add roughly 48.5 minutes to each workweek. This is equivalent to about 193 additional hours every year.
However, the benefits of remote work go beyond increased productivity. As a result of not having to commute, remote workers have more time to focus on themselves and their health. Half of people who work from home make time for outdoor activities like walking and running.
Greater Talent Pool
Recruiting outside of the country also helps you find the best talent available. Talent is international, and qualified experts are not just found in the United States. In fact, there are a lot of qualified and eager foreign workers who would love to work for an American firm.
Hiring internationally also gives you access to employees in different time zones, so you can have people working for you at all hours of the day and night. Naturally, this poses difficulties for group projects.
However, it is possible to have both local and foreign employees collaborate with enough overlapping hours with the right amount of planning and organization.
Quantifiable Outcomes
Companies with remote workers must rely on output rather than presence as a performance indicator.
Being physically present at work does not equate to actual productivity. Management that rewards employees for their hard work, initiative, and excellence sends a message throughout the company that ultimately leads to increased productivity.
Managers can evaluate employee performance based on the quality of their work and the outcomes they produce by establishing clear metrics, establishing weekly goals, soliciting feedback from team members and clients, and conducting regular performance reviews.
This process can also be facilitated with the use of computer monitoring software. Software like this can provide managers with employee productivity metrics ahead of their annual review time.
Establishing a Global Presence
When you bring in workers from other countries, you enrich your company’s cultural diversity. International workers can bring fresh ideas and perspectives to an organization, which can improve the work environment for everyone.
Having international employees who are familiar with the ins and outs of foreign markets is especially helpful if your company operates internationally.
Cons of Remote Hiring
The disadvantages of remote hiring are as follows:
Lack of In-Person Contact
Isolation is on the rise among remote workers.
There is currently no replacement for the traditional workplace water cooler/break room chats that people look forward to each day. Replicating the experience in an online setting can be quite difficult, which can lead to feelings of anxiety in some people.
It is especially important for a remote team to have open lines of communication so that everyone knows what they should be working on and when.
Managers in remote teams also have to deal with difficulties in performance evaluation and employee motivation due to the lack of personal interaction.
Initial Technological Investment
In order for distributed teams to function effectively, companies must make preliminary investments in technology, such as cloud-based platforms for project management collaboration and security measures.
This might take the shape of gadgets or productivity and communication apps like Zoom, Trello, and Slack.
Companies may also have to invest in computer monitoring software to track employees’ productivity and work tasks.
This kind of software can also protect the company against cyber attacks by preventing their sensitive data from getting into the wrong hands.
Luckily, computer monitoring software like Wolfeye are among the cheapest that are out there. They are also feature-rich and can help boost your company’s success while doing the managerial work for you.
Conclusion
There are many pros and cons to hiring remote employees, and the best option for your business depends on the specific needs of your company. However, in general, the benefits of having a remote workforce outweigh the risks.