Six Benefits of Embracing Remote Work in 2022

This post is based on data originally published in an article on the Scalable Path blog.?

Much of the software talent market is showing desire for remote work environments. Data collected in 2022 showed that many developers were willing to accept lower salaries in exchange for working from home.?

At the same time, the positive impact for companies, employees, and the environment have never been more clear. Future pandemics may be inevitable, and remote work can safeguard our teams from workplace exposure. Our rapidly warming climate could be mitigated in part with a reduction in commuter traffic. And there’s strong evidence showing employees have increased well-being and workplace happiness in remote workplaces.?

If you don’t currently hire remote software developers, here are six reasons to consider it in 2022.?

You’ll be More Able to Attract Quality Candidates

The U.S. is facing one of the largest talent gaps in history. It’s estimated that, for every five open developer positions, there’s one qualified candidate to fill it. Companies that offer remote models will likely have a competitive advantage; according to data from Buffer, 97% of currently remote employees wish to remain at least partially remote for the duration of their career.?

High-performing candidates may decline offers from companies that require them to be in the office. That’s because many of them know they can secure a remote role with the same or similar pay, regardless of the workplace policy on where you work. Offering a remote role may now be a requirement if you want to compete for top-tier talent.

You can Access a Global Talent Pool

A major benefit of remote work models is that it opens up an international talent pool. This means you can vet the best candidates for your role regardless of location,? rather than competing for a limited pool of local developers.?

Variability in the cost of living around the world - and the corresponding expected salaries - provides additional incentive. Employers can now “shop around” to find the optimum balance of price point and technical ability. For example, we’ve found that there’s a sweet spot in placing Latin American developers with US companies – the price is right and there’s a lot of experienced talent there, all in an overlapping timezone.

Cost Savings

Especially in metro regions, office space and related expenses add up for an organization. Even when paying freelancers a higher hourly rate to make up for costs they have to cover themselves - their workspace, benefits, long-term savings, and so forth – it regularly nets out to lower costs for the client.?

It’s estimated that companies save an average of $10,000 per employee per year in real estate and related costs with a fully remote policy.?

As of June 2022, 6 of 10 employers report cost savings as a major benefit to remote and hybrid models. While the amount saved will depend on a company’s overall head count, revenue, and the working model they adopt, the data is clear.?

Increased flexibility for employers on short-term projects

A less-often discussed benefit for employers is flexibility, especially with respect to short-term projects and consulting arrangements. It’s easy to hire short-term contractors through a staff augmentation company that brings staff on for a well-defined project until its completion, and then release or reduce the hours of your contractors without having to worry about finding another place or project for them in your organization. The commitment of adding staff becomes much less daunting.

Reduced greenhouse gas emissions

Research conducted during the pandemic showed that remote work significantly reduced GHG emissions, even taking into account an increase in residential emissions. Transportation generates approximately 14% of global GHG emissions; in 2020 alone, remote working reduced commuting emissions by 97%.?

As employers working in a space where work can be done remotely, we have a responsibility to consider the broader implications of the working models we choose for our companies. Allowing employees to work from home might seem like a small decision that affects only our company. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Our decision to allow remote work has monumental positive benefits for our collective global society.?

Remote workers may be more productive

Particularly in the software, IT, and finance industries, productivity seems to increase when employees are remote. A 30,000-person study during the pandemic showed that there was a 5% increase in productivity when employees worked from home. What’s more, employees were 22% happier.?

While happiness doesn’t immediately seem like it corresponds to increased productivity, there’s a clear link. Employees that are happier are more likely to stay in jobs longer, decreasing the cost of hiring and training new staff.?

Why it’s the right time to consider remote, distributed teams

If you’ve made it this far, hopefully we’ve shed some light on the benefits of remote work. A reduction in company expenditures, increased employee productivity and team morale, and a bigger talent market can give a company an edge over its competitors.?

In an evolving landscape, it’s also clear that being remote-first or at least offering remote working arrangements is necessary for an organization to hire software developers and remain resilient through challenging times.