Bad Weather? No Power? No Problem!

We love to talk about the weather; for many of us, it’s more than small talk. There’s no end to the drama that unfolds on your local weather station, but there’s no need for your business to suffer (even with hurricanes hurtling toward landfall and snowpocalypses burying cities in two feet of powder and ice). You can avoid these headaches and potentially dangerous situations by investing in a remote workforce — either one of your own making or one to which you outsource your services. It’s a smart move, as we’ll illustrate below (besides, it’s the future that we’ve been promised for decades now):

It maximizes your productivity. When your workforce is based in a single location, you’re at the mercy of whatever circumstance may throw your way. Storms, floods, power outages, states of emergency, and widespread ailments can shut down your operations overnight. Spreading your workforce around the country or around the world eliminates that risk; even if some team members are down for the count due to loss of power, your remote workforce can help pick up that slack. The U.S. federal government instituted a telecommuting policy after the bird flu pandemic of the early 2000s. That policy proved to be a wise decision after snow-related closures in 2009 and 2010; government employees weathered the storm by working from home, saving more than $30 million a day during that period.

It creates a more inclusive workforce. Employers who build a team of remote workers provide opportunities to people with disabilities, military families, and those who are unable to commute or need a flexible schedule. It not only opens up the possibilities of a greater range of team members, but encourages workers to stick around longer. Giving team members the flexibility to have schedules which enable them to balance work and home goes a long way toward building loyalty.

Weather is no longer a major concern. With the winter comes new obstacles to overcome, and those in snowy regions are well familiar with the hazards of wintry weather. Warnings to avoid travel during heavy snowfall are often accompanied by requests of commuters to work from home. While some fortunate workers are able to do their duties remotely, others aren’t quite so lucky, and must put themselves at risk in order to perform their job. Having a remote team not only increases productivity and saves money, it keeps team members out of harm’s way.

The numbers don’t lie. Studies have shown that telecommuting reduces the cost to businesses and workers and is environmentally friendly. A 2016 report examining the bottom-line impact of telecommuting found that if those who wished to work from home did so just half the time, the annual savings would top $700 billion.

Preparing for poor weather is always a major element of any business continuity plan, which details the tasks that need to be undertaken to ensure a company remains up and running in any given situation. Embracing a remote workforce is one way to eliminate a few of the risks outlined in those sorts of crisis plans. Risk reduction, improved productivity, happier workers, and financial benefits: The benefits of utilizing a remote workforce couldn’t be clearer. Just ask your friends here at ModSquad.