How to create a policy that supports remote workers' needs

When people talk about remote work, they often paint a picture of the perfect work scenario, and it’s easy to see why. Studies show working remote can increase productivity, save employers money, and give employees more flexibility. So it’s no surprise that remote work is becoming more popular.

In a recent study of 500 remote workers, when asked to rate remote work on a scale of 1 to 5, 74 percent rated their remote work situation a 4 or higher. The same study also revealed the majority of remote workers would give up working remote for as little as a smaller workload.

Related: Blurring of work/life boundaries causes stress in remote workers

Those two data points are a bit confusing on their own. It’s like a product averaging 4.5-star reviews whose users would be willing to return the product. So what piece of the story are we missing and where are the thorns on this rose? The data reveals the pros and cons of working remotely.

Pro: Employees get a productivity boost

When asked about how remote work impacts their productivity, the majority of remote workers said skipping the daily commute increased their productivity. This is interesting since they also reported the number of distractions and interruptions that make them unproductive remained roughly the same.

Since the increase in productivity isn’t due to significantly fewer distractions, it could be due to the fact that remote workers report working longer hours. Nearly a third of respondents said they work more when working remote. Remote workers actually said this was the No. 1 challenge they face when working remote. It appears that boost in productivity comes at a cost.

Pro: Working remotely promotes employee well-being

Since remote workers are putting in more time, you might expect to see a negative impact on their health, relationships, and family life, especially since 58 percent work from home. This doesn’t seem to be the case, however, as the majority of remote workers experience a positive impact on their family life, social life, mental health, physical health, finances, career, and life goals.

These positive impacts could be chalked up to the top benefits remote workers report. These include not having to commute, which saves them an average of three hours a week, gives them more control over their schedules, and means they spend less time getting ready for work.

Con: Remote workers fight perceptions about benefits

The benefits to an employee’s well-being while working remotely are clear, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges. According to the survey, the second most common challenge remote workers experience is people thinking they aren’t working. This can be frustrating for remote workers, especially since they are likely putting in extra hours.

Remote workers also say people don’t always have a realistic view of what it’s like to work remotely. More than a third say people tend to overestimate the benefits of remote work and underestimate the challenges.

These negative perceptions of remote workers are likely the cause of some stress. This is reflected in the data as 30 percent report an increase in stress when working remote despite the benefits to their well-being.

The skewed perception of remote workers could also be impacting their wallets. Fifteen percent of remote workers say they have never received a promotion, 9 percent have never received a raise, and 1 in 10 says they have been passed up for a promotion.

Con: Daily remote workers feel disconnected from their teams

Being in the office has an impact on your connection to your co-workers. When asked about their relationships with their co-workers, the majority of remote workers reported a positive experience. They say they communicate often, have a grasp on what they are working on, feel they know their teammates well, don’t feel disconnected, and don’t feel like they are missing out at work.

This changes a bit when looking at those who work remotely every day. The majority of those who are remote every day say they don’t know their co-workers very well, feel disconnected from them, and don’t communicate with them often.

How to make remote policies work

Technology has made working from anywhere in the world easier than ever, and giving your employees ownership and flexibility has some incredible benefits. But the key to making remote work successful is to go into it with your eyes open.

If you are looking into offering remote work or you already offer it as a benefit, it’s important to know what you’re up against and have a plan. Here are some tips to improve your remote work experience.

1. Create guidelines Every remote work policy is different, but employees need to know when it’s okay for them to work remote and when they need to be in the office. You might not think it’s a big deal, but vague policies can cause friction and don’t help anyone. Consider thinking through what scenarios you would and wouldn’t allow remote work and communicate them with your team.

2. Communicate your expectations People have many different ideas for what remote work looks like, so it’s important to be on the same page. Setting clear expectations for remote workers is vital to their success. There are some questions to think through.

Are remote workers expected to start work by a certain time? Do they need to respond to messages and emails within a certain amount of time? Are they expected to attend meetings virtually? Do they need to communicate when they are going on breaks or to lunch?

3. Encourage a positive view Attitude flows from the top down, and it’s no different with remote work. An innocent joke about how working from home means watching Netflix and checking email can easily turn into your team having a negative view of people who work remote.

It can also give off the notion that you allow types of behavior employees could take advantage of. After all, if other people are doing it, why shouldn’t they? Instead, educate employees on the facts and explain the benefits of working remote.

While remote work probably won’t solve all of your productivity and well-being issues, it can be a powerful tool for your business’s success if it’s used wisely.

Patrick Adcock is a marketing analyst at TSheets by QuickBooks. He’s a lover of all things related to startups and coffee. When he’s not writing surveys and crunching numbers, he can be found running, hiking, or watching movies with a tub of Red Vines.