Remote work is becoming increasingly popular in today's job market, with more and more companies offering work-from-home options. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this trend, as many companies were forced to transition to remote work due to social distancing requirements. While remote work certainly has its challenges, many surprising benefits come with <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/tips-for-landing-a-remote-job-getting-hired" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">working a remote job</a>. To further support the benefits of remote work, let's take a look at some statistics:
<ul>
<li> According to a survey by <a href="https://buffer.com/state-of-remote-work/2020" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Buffer</a>, 98% of remote workers would like to continue working remotely, at least some of the time, for the rest of their careers.</li>
<li> An investigation discovered that organizations can set aside $11,000 each year per representative by permitting them to remotely work. (<a href="https://globalworkplaceanalytics.com/telecommuting-statistics" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Global Workplace Analytics</a>)</li>
<li>Remote.co reports that 75% of remote workers say they experience fewer distractions, allowing them to be more productive.</li>
<li> According to a survey by <a href="https://www.tinypulse.com/blog/engagement-survey-questions-ask-a-new-hire-employee-onboarding" rel="noopener" target="_blank">TINYpulse</a>, remote workers are happier in their jobs than in-office workers, with a score of 8.10 out of 10 compared to 7.42 for in-office workers.</li>
<li> A study by <a href="https://owllabs.com/state-of-remote-work/2022" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Owl Labs </a>found that remote workers save an average of 40 minutes per day on their commute, which equates to almost one full week of work each year.</li>
</ul>
These statistics demonstrate the many advantages that remote work can offer both employees and employers. These are some of the stats that show why remote working is beneficial. Now let&rsquo;s explore 10 of these benefits and how they can improve your work life. 
<h3>Benefit #1: Increased Productivity</h3>
One of the biggest benefits of working a remote job is increased productivity. While working from home, you can eliminate distractions and focus solely on your work. According to a survey conducted by <a href="https://www.airtasker.com/blog/the-benefits-of-working-from-home/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Airtasker</a>, it was found that remote workers spend 4.66% more days working each month compared to their office-based counterparts. Additionally, 86% of remote workers say they're more productive when they work alone. 
<h3>Benefit #2: Flexibility</h3>
Another benefit of working a remote job is the flexibility it provides. When you work from home, you have more control over your schedule and can work when it's most convenient for you. This is particularly beneficial for parents, caregivers, and anyone who has other commitments outside of work. According to a survey by Buffer, 40% of remote workers say that a flexible schedule is the biggest benefit of working remotely. 
<h3>Benefit #3: Better Work-Life Balance</h3>
Remote work has revolutionized the traditional work model by giving employees the freedom to work from anywhere, at any time. This freedom has helped many workers achieve a better work-life balance, a crucial factor for maintaining good physical and mental health. Remote work allows employees to save time and energy that would otherwise be spent commuting, giving them more time to pursue personal interests or spend quality time with their families. 
According to a survey conducted by assignmentassistance.co.uk, remote workers reported being happier, less stressed, and more satisfied with their jobs than office workers. The survey found that remote workers were 22% happier than their office-based counterparts. This happiness could be attributed to the fact that remote workers have more control over their work schedules and have the flexibility to manage their work and personal lives. 
<h3>Benefit #4: No Commute</h3>
Eliminating the daily commute is one of the biggest benefits of working a remote job. Not only does this save you time, but it also saves you money on gas, car maintenance, and other commuting expenses. According to a survey by FlexJobs, remote workers save an average of $4,000 per year on commuting expenses. <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-working-at-home-and-making-video-call-on-laptop-4474047/" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/2NkYWDgT0OHFkdcIas8g"></a> 
<h3>Benefit #5: Expanded Job Opportunities</h3>
Remote work allows you to work for companies located anywhere in the world, which can expand your <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/blog/post/navigating-the-freelance-market-getting-hired" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">career opportunities</a> significantly. This is particularly beneficial if you live in a rural area or if there aren't many job opportunities in your field where you live.
 According to a survey by <a href="https://www.upwork.com/press/releases/upwork-study-finds-22-of-american-workforce-will-be-remote-by-2025" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Upwork</a>, 41.8% of the American workforce is working remotely, up from 30% in 2019. It is great for individuals who may not have had access to traditional in-office positions due to geographic, physical, or other limitations. 
By removing the need for employees to be physically present in a specific location, remote work allows individuals to work for companies regardless of their location. This opens up job opportunities for people who may have otherwise been excluded from certain industries or job markets. Additionally, remote work also allows individuals to take on multiple jobs or projects at once, providing greater flexibility and earning potential. 
<h3>Benefit #6: Increased Job Satisfaction</h3>
Remote work has been shown to increase job satisfaction for many employees. According to a survey by <a href="https://www.tinypulse.com/blog/engagement-survey-questions-ask-a-new-hire-employee-onboarding" rel="noopener" target="_blank">TINYpulse</a>, remote workers are 22% happier in their jobs than office workers. Additionally, 91% of remote workers say they have a better work-life balance, contributing to overall job satisfaction. 
<h3>Benefit #7: Cost Savings</h3>
While searching on the internet I went through a paper that concluded that working a remote job can also lead to significant cost savings. Not only do you save money on commuting expenses, but you also save money on work clothes, meals, and other expenses that are typically associated with office work. According to a survey by FlexJobs, remote workers save an average of $4,000 per year on work-related expenses. 
<h3>Benefit #8: Reduced Stress</h3>
Remote work can also reduce stress for many employees. When you work from home, you don't have to deal with office politics, long commutes, or other stressors that can come with working in an office environment.
 According to a study by <a href="https://buffer.com/state-of-remote-work/2020" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Buffer</a>, 22% of remote workers reported less stress, and 53% reported a better work-life balance. Remote work can also provide more opportunities for self-care, such as taking breaks to exercise, preparing healthy meals, or spending time with loved ones. All of these factors can contribute to a better overall sense of well-being and reduced stress levels. <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/ethnic-woman-kissing-baby-near-netbook-and-coffee-cup-6392997/" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/8tY6a2jTkqlrTKNOWugi"></a> 
<h3>Benefit #9: Increased Autonomy</h3>
Remote work also provides employees with increased autonomy, which can be very beneficial for those who prefer to work independently. Working from home allows you to have more control over your work environment, your schedule, and your workflow.
 This can help you to be more productive and feel more in control of your work life. According to a survey by <a href="https://owllabs.com/state-of-remote-work/2022" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Owl Labs</a>, remote workers feel more trusted to get their work done and are given more freedom to make decisions, which can contribute to greater job satisfaction and happiness. 
<h3>Benefit #10: Reduced Environmental Impact</h3>
Finally, remote work can also have a positive impact on the environment. When you work from home, you don't have to commute to work, which reduces your carbon footprint. Additionally, remote work can reduce the need for large office buildings, which can have a significant impact on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. 
<h3>While Summing It Up&hellip;</h3>
Working a remote job comes with many surprising benefits that can improve your work life and overall well-being. From increased productivity and flexibility to better work-life balance and reduced stress, remote work can provide a better quality of life for many employees.&nbsp; 
<h4 style="text-align: center;"> Searching for a new position or switching careers? To apply and discover more about opportunities that are HIRING NOW, create an account at <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/candidates" rel="follow">careercircle.com</a>! </h4>
<hr>
<h3> Content Collaborator</h3>
Melissa Calvert is currently working as an assistant at <a href="https://www.crowdwriter.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Crowd Writer</a>, where professionals and students can seek career counseling.&nbsp;Melissa likes to travel and trying new recipes in the kitchen. <img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/SAiQh3NzT3m4InBytyrw" width="197" height="230">

Remote work is on the rise, offering benefits like increased productivity, flexibility, and better work-life balance. Discover the top 10 perks!

Remote Jobs: Flexibility & Work-Life Balance | Getting Hired

Remote Jobs: Flexibility & Work-Life Balance

There&rsquo;s nothing worse than sending a bad first impression when you&rsquo;re trying to interview for a job, they tend to stick with you given the brain's tendency towards holding onto negative memories. They can be discouraging and frustrating but there are some ways you can look to recover.
&nbsp;
<h2>Take a Breath and Start Again</h2>
The first thing to do if you notice you are rambling and giving off nervous energy is to stop, take a breath, and try to ground yourself before you continue. &ldquo;If you can take a moment, breathe and recover it comes across to the interviewer as a good way to show you are aware of potential negative aspects and working to positively address them,&rdquo; mentions career blogger Theresa J. Kyzer from <a href="https://writemyx.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Write My X</a> and <a href="https://1day2write.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">1day2write</a>.
&nbsp;
The fact you are taking a moment to recover should allow you to improve the rest of the interview in a more confident and controlled manner. Interviewers understand that those situations can be stressful and will likely give you a bit of leeway especially if you show a desire to try and improve yourself.
&nbsp;
<h2>Move on From a Bad Question</h2>
If you&rsquo;ve been answering a question in a ramble without really providing an answer and feel things have gone badly you should try not to focus on it for the rest of the interview. It&rsquo;s easier said than done but if you can remove focus from that question and instead make sure you focus on your skillsets and unique talents that you wish to push going forward. If you hyper-fixate on a bad question, you can end up flailing for the rest of the interview as you panic internally and don&rsquo;t focus on the best ways to answer other questions.
&nbsp;
<h2>Ask the Interviewer a Question</h2>
&ldquo;Even if the interview is going well this is a great way to show interest in the company and shows you care about the job,&rdquo; observes Sandra Hamilton a business writer from <a href="https://originwritings.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Originwritings</a> and <a href="https://britstudent.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Britstudent</a>. Ask the interviewer their views on the company and its culture. Find out what the interviewer sees as the biggest challenge for the person in that role. Find out what the day-to-day job will look like in more detail using the job description from the application. These provide you a way to learn about the job in more detail and the company itself and give interviewers confidence that you actually do want this job. It&rsquo;s also a great way to decide whether or not you want to work for that company or not based on whether the answer fits your personality.
&nbsp;
<h2>Let the Employer Know of Outside Influences</h2>
Don&rsquo;t make excuses or point the finger but it is important to let employers know of things that may influence the interview ahead of time if you can. If you&rsquo;re running late due to public transport call to let the interviewer know. If you have had a serious life event that has distracted you it is absolutely ok to let the employer know about it to explain.
&nbsp;
<h2>Thank the Interviewer </h2>
At the end of the interview thank them for their time and for considering you for this position. It can be a great way to show humility and grace even if things have not been going your way.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;
<h2>Review the Situation</h2>
You likely think the interview went worse than it did so it&rsquo;s important once you&rsquo;ve left the interview to reflect and learn. Reflect on what went well and where you could improve. Don&rsquo;t just focus on the negatives.
&nbsp;
<h2>Follow Up and Put References on Alert</h2>
Follow up the interview with a further thank you note to the company further expanding on questions you feel you didn&rsquo;t adequately answer. Highlight the skills you wish to push forward and add things you forgot to mention in the interview that makes you stand out. This is where you can also put details of any serious life events that distracted you if you weren&rsquo;t able to say anything before the interview.
&nbsp;
Let your references know they might get a call about the interview and highlight any areas you want to push forward that you feel you didn&rsquo;t make clear in the interview.
&nbsp;
<h2>Wrapping Up</h2>
At the end of the day, we&rsquo;re all human and employers know things aren&rsquo;t always going to go smoothly. Follow the tips mentioned here and most importantly learn from the experience and look to forgive yourself so it doesn&rsquo;t remain a negative experience that affects you.
 To learn more about CareerCircle, our mission, and to find your next job opportunity go to <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/candidates">https://www.careercircle.com/candidates</a>.
 Content Contributor: During a decade of marriage, George J. Newton, business development manager at <a href="https://academicbrits.com/write-my-assignment" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Write My Assignment</a> and <a href="https://phdkingdom.com/dissertation-writing-service" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Dissertation Writing Service</a>, has been working on perfecting the art of the apology. When he gets a spare minute he also writes for <a href="https://nextcoursework.com/cheap-coursework" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cheap Coursework</a>.

Overcome interview nerves: breathe, refocus, ask questions, and thank your interviewer.

Recovering an Interview from a Bad First Impression | Getting Hired

Recovering an Interview from a Bad First Impression

Workplace stress is a growing problem that can take a toll on mental health, leading to problems such as anxiety, depression, and burnout among employees. These conditions can significantly impact work performance, leading to decreased productivity and job loss.
For many people trapped in this vicious cycle, work stress leads to poor mental health, which contributes to poor performance at work, causing more work stress, and so on. It's this cycle that makes it critical for employers to provide support for mental health in the workplace. By creating a healthy work environment where employees feel valued, appreciated, and supported in their mental health, employers can help reduce workplace stress and improve the team's overall well-being.
Keep reading to learn more about the relationship between work and mental health and several ways you can support your employees' mental health as an employer. 
<h2>How the Workplace Can Impact Mental Health</h2>
 Workplace stress has increased significantly in the past three decades. <a href="https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2020/report-october" rel="noopener" target="_blank">A recent study</a> by the American Psychological Association found that over half of all workers report that their job is very or extremely stressful. When workers are stressed, it impacts their ability to work efficiently and effectively, leading to poor job performance, absenteeism or presenteeism (when employees come to work but don't perform well), increased sick leave, and even loss of talent.
 Stress negatively impacts mental health, but <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5137920/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">chronic stress</a> has also been linked to physical health issues, increasing the risk of conditions such as:
<ul>
<li> Heart disease</li>
<li> Obesity</li>
<li> Diabetes</li>
</ul>
<h2> What Causes Workplace Stress?</h2>
 So, what causes stress in the workplace? It can be a combination of several things.
For some employees, it's a lack of resources and overwhelming responsibility. For others, it's a lack of work culture or flexibility in the role. Toxic work environments that limit internal growth or don't compensate their workers properly can also lead to the downfall of workplace mental health for many. <a href="https://gettinghired.com/candidate/registration" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/llEFXjcvQ2ed4Amvyw5D"></a> 
<h2>How Mental Health Issues Can Impact the Workplace</h2>
 Mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, can significantly impact workplace productivity. Depression and anxiety alone cost employers an estimated 12 billion working days per year, adding up to nearly<a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-at-work" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> $1 trillion in lost productivity</a> annually.
&nbsp;
Mental health issues can also lead to:
<ul>
<li> Decreased morale</li>
<li> Increased absenteeism</li>
<li> Extended periods of leave</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Employers may also face costly legal action if they do not take reasonable steps to protect their employees from discrimination based on mental illness.
When your workers don't feel fulfilled, cared for, and supported by their employer and workplace, you'll feel that missing piece far beyond the individual employees. It begins to seep into the quality of work and eat into productive hours. 
<h2>Why Mental Health Support Is So Important in the Workplace</h2>
 Providing support for mental health in the workplace is essential for employers to ensure their workers are healthy, engaged, and productive.
Not only does mental health support help employees combat stress, but it also promotes a positive work culture that leads to increased job satisfaction and improved retention rates. It keeps workers feeling connected, valued, and appreciated instead of isolated from their peers or inadequate in their roles.
Employers should strive to create a psychologically safe space for their employees where everyone feels heard, respected, and free to express themselves. Ultimately, this freedom helps create an environment conducive to collaboration and productivity.
When you support mental health in the workplace, employers experience greater financial success and less turnover due to improved job satisfaction among employees. 
<h2>Ways To Support Mental Health in the Workplace</h2>
 Looking for ideas for ways to support your employees' mental health at work? Here are a few actionable tips: 
<h4> Robust Employee Assistance Program</h4>
Ensure your employees have access to the tools and support they need when it comes to managing their mental health by providing online or in-person counseling services, educational resources, and stress management programs.
The goal of employee assistance programs (EAP) is to support employees with issues that may be negatively impacting their well-being or job performance. It should cover a broad range of issues with various solutions, such as <a href="https://www.roarforgood.com/wireless-bluetooth-features" rel="noopener" target="_blank">wireless panic buttons</a> to alleviate stress about workplace violence or emergencies, legal support, counseling for work or relationship problems, and more. 
<h4> Wellness Spaces</h4>
Creating designated areas for employees to relax and destress throughout the day can help support their mental health. 
The space should be comfortable, with plenty of <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/natural-light-benefits" rel="noopener" target="_blank">natural light</a>, seating, and a selection of activities such as puzzles or coloring books. It can also double as a space for team meetings or individual work sessions. Add plants and snacks for an extra boost. 
<h4> Regular Mental Health Check-Ins</h4>
Make mental health check-ins a priority by scheduling time for employees to talk one-on-one with their managers and voice any concerns or needs. You can schedule check-ins weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, depending on the organization's size.
These conversations should be in a nonjudgmental and supportive environment that encourages open communication. Look at them as an opportunity for managers to actively listen and offer solutions or resources if needed.
Another great idea is to pair these check-ins with mental health days. Some companies are now offering free mental health days to their employees as needed, and adding a mental health check-in upon return to the office can help pinpoint issues to avoid in the future. 
<h4> Free or Subsidized Mental Health Treatment </h4>
Free or subsidized mental health treatment can take many forms, including the following:
<ul>
<li> Individual counseling sessions</li>
<li> Group therapy</li>
<li> <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858" rel="noopener" style="color: #34495e;" target="_blank">Meditation</a> or mindfulness classes</li>
</ul>
 By removing the financial barrier to seeking help, your employees are more likely to get the support they need. Making these services available to your employees will let them know that their mental health is valued and taken seriously. <a href="https://gettinghired.com/candidate/registration" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/9s3LstkGR9UDWr8aCaAE"></a> 
<h2>Final Thoughts: Making Mental Health Work Better for Work</h2>
 Mental health support should be considered a crucial part of any workplace if the organization truly wants to succeed.
By taking these steps, employers can help ensure that their employees are healthy and supported both physically and mentally, which, in turn, creates a positive work environment where everyone can succeed. 
<hr>
 Our inclusive employer partners are hiring and are looking for talent just like you! Align your skills, experience, and knowledge by registering <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/candidates/signup" rel="follow noopener" style="color: #34495e;" target="_blank" title="Register today">here</a>!

Explore the impact of workplace stress on mental health and strategies to improve employee well-being.

Mental Health in the Workplace: Why Support Is So Important | Getting Hired

Mental Health in the Workplace: Why Support Is So Important

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144 Articles

Remote Jobs: Flexibility & Work-Life Balance

Recovering an Interview from a Bad First Impression

Mental Health in the Workplace: Why Support Is So Important