The appeal of going to work in your fuzzy slippers and having a 30-second commute to your downstairs office may seem like a dream come true. For a growing number of people, this scenario is no longer just a dream; it’s reality. FlexJobs, a site dedicated to those seeking telecommuting, flexible or virtual jobs, reports a 36 percent rise in work-from-home jobs being posted by companies in 2016 and a 103 percent increase over the last decade. Beware, though: working from home isn’t for everyone and may not work for all types of businesses.
If your team thrives on impromptu gatherings in the break room, face-to-face meetings in the conference room, or socializing around the water cooler, then the virtual office may not be a good fit for your business. And, of course, if your business requires in-person interaction with customers/clients, switching to a virtual office is unlikely to be a viable option. Even in this type of business setting, though, it may be possible to rotate schedules so that your employees are able to work from home once a week or once every two weeks.
The question you may be asking yourself right now is, “Why should I care if having a virtual office would work for my business?” In other words, it’s the proverbial WIIFM: What’s in it for me? I have four words for you: productivity, cost, employee morale.