Blog Are at-home workers more productive?

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Are at-home workers more productive?

Some companies like to keep as much work as possible in-house. From public relations to client support, certain corporate cultures espouse the opinion that every worker should always be under the watchful eye of a company manager. Does such a system result in increased productivity or financial success? A growing body of evidence suggests that the answer is no.

A recent Stanford University study that compared in-person and at-home call center representatives for a travel website found that the at-home group completed more calls and were less likely to quit for another position. The people at home also said that they found their work more satisfying than those who labored in an office. The increased productivity was mostly the result of the ability to start earlier in the day and taking fewer sick days.

In an article in Contact Professional, communications executive Felix Serrano wrote that the improved work-life balance of an at-home customer service representative may help them be able to do tasks more efficiently.

“Rather than sitting in a cubicle thinking about getting home to let the dog out or needing to find something to cook for dinner that night for their kids, they can fully focus on the work task at hand,” Serrano wrote. “The same idea can be said for part time employees or for those with flex schedules.”

Businesses sometimes forget that disengaged or unhappy employees will hurt their bottom line. Service agents who pass their displeasure on the customer are detrimental to any company.

To improve your company’s interactions with customers and to increase brand loyalty, consider working with a onshore customer service contact center.