New Statistics on Work From Home Exemplify Need for a WFH Equipment Return Policy Meta:

When the COVID-19 pandemic upended the familiar way of life, many companies shuttered their offices and adapted to working remotely while it was unsafe to gather — with the assurance it was “only temporary.” Now, a few years later, remote work is still hugely popular. While there are massive benefits for employees like saving time on commutes and eliminating childcare costs, remote work has its challenges and is driving organizations to make changes. 

For companies that provide laptops or other necessary equipment, an equipment return policy will play a strong role in onboarding, offboarding, upgrades, and other normal processes in today’s remote-first work landscape. 

Let’s dive into the latest statistics on work from home (WFH) and how this new normal will affect employers in the U.S.

WFH at a Glance

• 16% of companies around the world are fully remote.

• 44% of companies don’t allow remote work. 

• 57% of employees prefer working from home.

• 33% of employees would quit their jobs if they weren’t allowed to work remotely.

• Healthcare, technology and financial services are the industries with the most remote workers.

Benefits of WFH

• Of 10,000 employees surveyed, 30% say they’re more productive and engaged when working at home versus at the office.

• 63% of WFH employees are caretakers for a loved one or dependent. 

• Remote work eliminates the greenhouse gas emissions of 600,000 cars per year.

• Companies with a remote workforce see $2000 in additional profits per remote worker.

Challenges of WFH

• 30% of remote workers do not receive regular training from their organizations.

• 54% of IT professionals say remote workers pose a greater cyber security risk than in-person employees.

• Remote employees are 16% less likely to feel like their managers involve them in goal setting.

• 60% of company owned equipment is not returned when employers only send a box and shipping label. 

• 30% of companies cite terminated employees as the cause of having equipment loss or damage.

It’s plain to see that organizations need policies that cater to a remote workforce — especially if they are providing company owned equipment. 

If you haven’t already, create an effective WFH equipment return policy that details employee expectations for offboarding, equipment upgrades and the unlikely event of termination. Address the possibility of damaged or missing equipment, and be sure every employee signs on the dotted line to acknowledge the policy. It’s helpful to simplify the returns process for your workers as much as possible, so your organization can avoid becoming part of the scary statistics. 

But how to make returns easy? With technology, of course! ReadyReturns is the software solution you need to reduce the stress of company equipment returns and bring your business up to speed. Remote work isn’t going anywhere, but you can make it virtually painless with an automated solution.