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Working Virtually on the Holidays

Holidays are better working Virtually

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In some industries, it can be difficult to find time to enjoy the holidays. We all want to visit our friends and family, but you are needed at work. However there is a way to take the time you need for the holidays while still continuing to be productive.

The main issue with taking the holidays off is that not everyone has the same schedule. Not every country celebrates at the same time and the same events, so while you may be preparing to sit with your family about to dig in to a delicious turkey, somewhere else, it is business as usual. And they are waiting for emails and phone calls from you.

If you’re a business owner, you may have reservations about keeping your employees around for the holidays. They deserve the time off and to be with their loved ones for the season. Happy workers are productive workers, and you know that denying them that opportunity will not be beneficial to their long term prospects with you.

At the same time, you need your employees to stay active and continue to work through that season.

The solution to this is simple. You can set up a Virtual Office for your employees. So they can continue to work, while they are away for the holidays.

By running your business from a Virtual Office, you get all the same benefits as a physical location; an address for mail and a place to meet your team and your clients. But you also get the benefits of remote working, such as flexible schedules, avoiding commutes, and massive rent prices.

And with the rapid increases in technology, faster and more reliable internet connections, and more work than ever before being done on a smartphone, there is no reason why your employees can’t be with their families for the holidays.

So take a look at our available packages and select one that fits your budget, and allows your employees and yourself to take the time they need for the holidays.

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Remote Worker

Remote Working into the Future

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The future of remote work will be knowledge and service based. While there will always be positions available in manufacturing and the trades, a lot of those jobs are being shipped overseas. New and emerging technologies are enabling positions and duties to be fulfilled online. In fact, a large percentage of workers are finding themselves in the “gig” economy, completing work from home or from a coffee shop.

In fact, these remote workers may very often be more skilled, more knowledgeable in their specific tasks, and some in far under budget than hiring someone who is more local. Who cares if they’re vacationing in Cabo if all their work is done on time, with attention to detail, and under budget?

In fact, a recent survey of more than 3000 respondents resulted in 65% of workers saying they think they would be more productive at home than in a traditional working environment. 

As an employer, or a worker trying to expand their role, you need to be aware of this. Opportunities are no longer just limited to the downtown core of your particular city. (Even though we absolutely love our downtown core). Many workers now just “work out of a laptop”. Working remotely with a smartphone, a laptop, and a good Wi-Fi signal, companies are built.

Many start-up entrepreneurs live out of their suitcases. Travelling to meet potential clients and investors, and only calling in to check on their team occasionally – and why not? Depending on their position, the CEO does not have to be in the Office with all your workers. Remote decisions can be made in any location.

That does not mean we are advocating for a totally remote experience. You’ll need to meet your team occasionally. All these remote workers are still people, not just the sum of their work output.

But not only is it possible, but in fact is the way forward, to hire remote workers and let them work at their pace, from their location. You’ll retain the talent you need, and have a happier, and more hardworking staff.

If you’re preparing a new venture, or would like to try going remote, take a look at the packages that Virtual Business Offices has available for you, and take the next step into the future of work.

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The Rise Of The Remote Worker

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Even with rising unemployment, the number of remote workers continues to climb according to the Dieringer Research Group Inc.

Demographically…

What does the average teleworker look like? Would you have guessed, 40-years-old and at least a college grad? Half of the teleworkers out there have a college degree, on top of that 25% have a post-graduate degree in addition to college. Teleworkers are mostly knowledge workers. The option to telework is increasingly offered to salaried employees (97%); but is few and far between for workers earning an hourly wage (11%).

“Home” is less Popular

“Home” still tops the list of locations that teleworking occurs, but “satellite center” and “hotels” are on the rise. Unfortunately, teleworking while “on vacation” is on the rise too – a practice that lowers the resiliency of workers, and leaves them tired and less productive when back from their (theoretical) vacation. For the first time “co-working office” was given as an option to where teleworking occurs, 12% of teleworkers confirmed that they use a co-working space.

Teleworking is a Reward

Employers see telework as a benefit to employees, and employees are in agreement viewing the ability to work remotely as a reward. Few companies employ large numbers of full-time remote workers, with the biggest exception being the telemarketing industry. 75 percent of employers admit that these privileges have a positive effect on employee engagement, morale, retention and motivation.

A Virtual Office is really just an extension of the Remote Working model. The ability to work from a laptop anywhere, but still have all your calls answered by a professional secretary, and have all your mail picked up and forwarded makes remote working easy and inexpensive.

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