As most people know, telecommuting in and of itself is a HUGE benefit. Most of the popular benefits of telecommuting, such as more time for family and friends, increased work-life balance, and no time sitting in traffic, are well-known. But what about the less publicized and surprising telecommuting benefits? While they are not as familiar, they are no less significant and often times tend to be the more coveted benefits of telecommuting. Check out these eight surprising telecommuting benefits!
Reduced Child Care Costs: While telecommuting is not an end to all child care needs, it does reduce the number of hours you may need childcare. Additionally, telecommuting can reduce the amount of emergency and last-minute care that is needed.
Neighborhood Safety: Working from home helps create a presence in your neighborhood, which might otherwise be completely empty during the day and ripe for robberies. Burglars typically scope out a neighborhood before deciding to rob a house, but seeing your car in the driveway and perhaps you throughout the day may make them less likely to strike.
Improved Fitness: One of the biggest and most surprising benefits of telecommuting is having more time to dedicate to staying physically active. With more time, and the ability to skip the formal attire, telecommuters can squeeze in a quick run or bust out a few push-ups or sit-ups throughout the day.
Balanced Mental Health: Ever notice that telecommuters seem to REALLY enjoy their work? Working from home, while still work, is good for mental health as it lowers stress levels and alleviates most office politics. And you can tailor the environment (light and temperature) to your specific needs.
Better Physical Health: It shouldn’t be surprising that telecommuting is a healthier way to work. In addition to being able to ditch the germs during flu season, telecommuters can add extra green plants to their office and choose alternatives to the harsh cleaning chemicals used on office equipment.
Environmentally Friendly: Not only does ditching a long commute save time, it also saves the environment and has a few other hidden benefits. Telecommuting also conserves energy as those working from home can opt to use energy saving products, use fewer office supplies, use environmentally friendly products, and utilize more natural light.
Fewer Work Expenses: Yes, telecommuting can save money! With no commute and the ability to eat from your kitchen, the money spent on gas or going out to lunch can be eliminated. Let’s not forget the reduced need for expensive office attire and dry cleaning.
More Time: Telecommuting saves a lot of time from the lack of a commute, and it also increases productivity, which leads to more time to accomplish work tasks or take time off. Not only do telecommuters not have to commute, they also have fewer interruptions from colleagues looking to chitchat throughout the day.
With telecommuting on the rise, and many people seeking the flexibility to do so, the benefits of getting to telecommute is yielding some surprising results. Work-life balance and telecommuting is proving to be a way of life rather than a temporary arrangement.
