You can’t ignore how helpful remote work has been in recent years. It became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s stuck around because it works. It’s helped businesses grow without the high costs that usually come with scaling.
Small and medium-sized businesses, including startups, are embracing remote work for good reason. According to Flex Index, 67% of tech companies with fewer than 100 employees are fully remote. For companies with 250 to 500 employees, 26% are fully remote too.
Many business owners are realising they don’t need a physical office to run things properly. At the same time, employees are showing that they can still be productive from home. The way people think about work has shifted, and more companies are getting comfortable with the flexibility remote work offers.
While bigger companies might still prefer hybrid setups, smaller ones are going fully remote and using it to build leaner, more efficient teams. It’s less about where you work now and more about how well the work gets done.
This shift isn’t going anywhere. A recent study by the CMI Team shows the global remote workplace services market is expected to grow by 23% every year between 2023 and 2032. That’s a strong indicator that remote work is here to stay.
If you’re still unsure about whether remote working is a bad business move, here are some of the key benefits remote work brings for both employers and employees.
Access to More Talent Options
One of the biggest benefits of remote work is being able to hire from a wider talent pool. Not just in your city or country, but across the world.
Before remote work became common, companies had two options. Hire locally or find someone willing to relocate. This made it harder to fill specialised roles and led many to settle for candidates who were not quite right.
Remote work changed that. A UK-based company can now hire an experienced digital marketing manager through an offshore staffing partner like Arwana. It creates more flexibility and better hiring outcomes.
Reduced Overhead
Hiring onsite staff brings extra costs. Office rent, electricity, internet, supplies, cleaning, and more. Each cost may seem small, but together they take a toll on the company’s budget.
Employees also spend time and money commuting every day. That adds up quickly.
With remote work, many of these expenses disappear. No office means no rent. No daily commute means more time and less stress for employees. It works out better for everyone involved.
Increased Productivity and Efficiency
Some people think staff only stay focused when managers are watching. Research tells a different story.
Zapier found that people working from home are 13 percent more productive. Overall productivity has gone up by five percent over the past few years.
Remote workers can concentrate better, set their own rhythm, and finish more in less time. Fewer distractions, better focus. That is what really matters.
Stronger Talent Retention
Companies that offer remote work have 25 percent lower turnover, according to Owl Labs.
Think about Employee A. They work remotely, have flexibility, and feel trusted. They are more likely to stay.
Now consider Employee B. They are required to be onsite five days a week, deal with traffic, and stick to rigid hours. Sooner or later, they start looking elsewhere.
When people have more control over how they work, they tend to stay longer. It is not about perks. It is about trust and respect.
Work-Life Balance
Employee A, who works remotely, has time to manage both personal and professional responsibilities. They are less stressed and more satisfied with their job.
Employee B spends hours commuting and struggles to balance work with life outside the office. Over time, it wears them down and affects how they show up at work.
Remote work gives people more breathing room. That space often leads to better performance and stronger loyalty.
Conclusion
Remote work is not the right fit for every role, but its benefits are hard to ignore.
Harvard and Stanford researchers found that moving to a hybrid model can save companies up to eleven thousand dollars per employee every year. For small and mid-sized businesses, that is a meaningful difference.
And if you work with Arwana, you could save up to £20,000 pounds compared to hiring locally. You get access to capable talent and cut down on unnecessary costs. That’s a win on both sides.