Finding top talent to work for your company may be a struggle. However, for companies that offer telecommuting benefits, you’ll have a better chance at attracting and retaining talent. According to 77% of respondents, in a recent Robert Half survey, if a company offers telecommuting options, he or she would be more likely to accept a job offer at that company.
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When broken down by age, tech-savvy Millennials lead the way, with 86% of Millennials (18- to 34-year-olds) saying they would be more willing to accept a position with a company that offers telecommuting options. For Gen X workers (35- to 54-year-olds), 79% say they want the ability to telecommute, and even 65% of Baby Boomers are seeking out companies that offer telecommuting options.
By Location
It should also come as no surprise that candidates in San Francisco and Los Angeles are also the most likely to seek out companies who offer telecommuting options, considering San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities to live in.
By being able to telecommute, potential workers will have the flexibility to seek out affordable housing while being able to work for a company they love. Other popular cities for telecommuting are: Detroit, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; Austin, Texas; and Denver, Colorado.
The Cons of Telecommuting
While 19% of respondents say they see no downside to telecommuting, other respondents beg to differ. According to 22% of respondents, they say that people in their company abuse this perk or don’t stick to work hours while they are telecommuting. Other downsides to this benefit include:
- Feeling isolated and missing a team environment (22%),
- Strained interpersonal relationships due to lack of face time (17%),
- Lack of face time means telecommuting workers may not be considered for new projects or promotions (12%), and
- No one to bounce ideas off of (7%).
The survey was developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm. It includes responses from more than 2,800 workers 18 years of age or older and employed in office environments in 28 major U.S. cities.