For centuries, employees have commuted to and from their offices at the beginning of each and every working day. For the average UK worker, this takes a daily 59 minutes1. That’s around 200 hours per year. For a person’s whole working life, this makes up over an entire year.
An entire year.
This is time that we could have spent with our families, improving our health, or even on productivity. With practically all companies becoming temporarily virtual during the current global health crisis, many people are beginning to wonder… is the physical office worth it?
The answer: probably not.
This is something we know all too well here at Get Animated Medical – for a variety of reasons, we have been running a virtual office since the company’s inception. We think that this way of life is beneficial for everyone, and we think other people are beginning to feel the same way. Here, we’re going to list the top 5 reasons, why every company should make the change, and go virtual…
1. Employees are happier
Along with the obvious advantages of eliminating the daily commute (as well as the financial benefits of this), employees just love working from home. Studies suggest that 91% of the UK workforce would be interested in continuing to work from home, after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides2.
One reason for this popularity must be the health benefits. The salvaged time (gained from literally waking up in your office) can be used on yourself and your wellbeing. Here at Get Animated Medical, many of us wake up and go to the gym, or even partake in a short yoga session before the working day begins.
Not only this, but employees also have more time and options for lunchtime. While working in a busy office, it’s so easy just to run to the nearest shop during your break, and buy a £3 meal deal. Although convenient, this usually consists of an unhealthy sandwich, a packet of crisps and a fizzy drink. While working from home, however, your lunch hour can instead be spent preparing a much more nutritional and healthy meal.
The aspect of working from home that the majority of employees value the most, however, is the improved work-life balance. Who would pass up the chance to spend more time with those we love?
For these reasons, it is clear that a business that decides to go virtual, is a company that chooses to invest in the lives of its employees.
2. Clients are happier
Working from home eliminates almost all overhead costs – the most significant of which being the price of running a physical office. Statistically, the average office worker in the UK costs their company £4000 per year, in terms of office space3! Without this cost, companies can significantly decrease their outgoings, enabling them to provide their own service for a fraction of the price.
It is for this reason that we, here at Get Animated Medical, can deliver work of the highest quality, while remaining extremely price-competitive. The idea that creativity requires face-to-face interaction is outdated and counter-productive. A new world is emerging, and eliminating the need for in-person meetings allows for more rapid delivery, lower costs, and even an increased talent pool.
For example, our award-winning animation video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uac3tcjtQBY) for MyHappyPlanet (www.myhappyplanet.co.uk) was produced entirely virtually – from artist, to animator, to composer, proving that virtual can produce outstanding quality.
3. Earth is happier
Becoming more eco-friendly is valued more and more by business owners, employees and customers alike – and getting rid of both the commute and the physical office space almost puts the recycled printing paper to shame.
Imagine if 50% of businesses in London converted to a virtual office – imagine the effects that would have on pollution. Now imagine if 50% of businesses globally converted to a virtual office – imagine the monumental effect that would have on climate change.
Everyone at Get Animated Medical feels passionately that it is our duty to protect the planet in any way that we can, and we’re proud to run a virtual office for this reason.
4. It’s more stable
It’s no secret that the current global health crisis hasn’t been easy on businesses, regardless of their size. Practically every single office in the UK went temporarily virtual in April, and although most are now realising its benefits, it was definitely an adjustment to begin with. Companies didn’t know how to use virtual conference software properly, direct lines to personal mobiles weren’t set up, and employees were simply not used to this version of the working day.
However, for virtual companies, it was business as usual. That means no teething problems, no extra training, no “I can see you, but I can’t hear you!” – just another day. This stability is a huge advantage for any company during such unprecedented times, and this just might be the determining factor when business owners decide whether to go permanently virtual.
5. It just… works!
Of all the reasons to go virtual, this one is impossible to argue against. Statistics show that running a virtual office, rather than a physical one, increases productivity by 13%4. This is incontestable proof that this way of working… works! Making the switch to a virtual office will improve your business.
So, you know what we think. Working from home produces a work-life balance for employees that actually enhances both their work and home lives. Not only this, but it is also advantageous to clients, the environment, and businesses as a whole.
The world is becoming virtual. Don’t get left behind!
Chas Alexander Smith
References
- Gallagher, S., 2019. You’re Not Imagining It. The Average Commute Time Is Getting Longer. [online] The Independent. Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/average-commute-time-59-minutes-record-work-tuc-a9204031.html
- Jay, J., 2020. 91% Of UK Workforce Willing To Work From Home After Pandemic Ends. [online] Teiss. Available at: https://www.teiss.co.uk/uk-workforce-work-from-home/
- Aitken, M., 2015. Virtual Offices – Saving The Environment… And Business Costs –. [online] Virtual Office MadeSimple. Available at: https://www.londonpresence.com/blog/virtual-offices-saving-the-environment-and-business-costs/
- Lynch, S., 2020.Why Working From Home Is A “Future-Looking Technology”. [online] Stanford Graduate School of Business. Available at: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/why-working-home-future-looking-technology
