While many are enjoying the perks of working from home, Apple employees are angry about a memo from the CEO asking them to return to work.

While office workers around the world haver been getting by the last year on Zoom meetings from the lounge room, the tech giant is trying to get employees back to Apple park on set days.

Apple workers would still be able to work from home on Wednesdays and Fridays though.

But many are unhappy with the announcement, responding in an internal letter that they would like more flexibility.

They want those who like working remote to be allowed to do so.

Benefits of Working From Home

When COVID-19 forced companies all over the world to send their employees home to work virtually, remote work had a big moment.

Yes, the rush to give employees access to all the tools they’d need to work from home was a bit, well, sudden for many employers.

10 Benefits of Working From Home

As we’ve long known, remote work has a host of advantages for workers.

Some you may already be aware of, and some that may open your eyes even more to remote work’s impact on employers, employees, the economy, and the planet.

1. Better Work-Life Balance

Many remote jobs also come with flexible schedules, which means that workers can start and end their day as they choose.

It’s all about achieving outcomes.

This control over your work schedule can be invaluable when it comes to attending to the needs of your personal life.

2. Less Commute Stress

The average one-way commuting time in the U.S. is 27.1 minutes.

According to the Auto Insurance Center, commuters spend about 100 hours commuting and 41 hours stuck in traffic each year.

Some “extreme” commutersface much longer commute times of 90 minutes or more each way.

• Higher cholesterol
• Elevated blood sugar
• Increased risk of depression

3. Location Independence

One of the considerable benefits of working from home is having access to a broader range of job opportunities that aren’t limited by geographic location.

This can be especially helpful for job seekers living in rural communities and small towns where there may not be many available local positions.

4. Improved Inclusivity

Remote work enables companies to embrace diversity and inclusion by hiring people from different socioeconomic, geographic, and cultural backgrounds and with different perspectives.

That can be challenging to accomplish when recruiting is restricted to a specific locale that not everyone wants, or can afford, to live near.

5. Money Savings

People who work from home half time can save around $4,000 per year.

Fuel, car maintenance, transportation, parking fees, a professional wardrobe, lunches bought out, and more can all be reduced or eliminated from your spending entirely.

These savings add up and put more money back into your pocket.

• Overhead
• Real estate costs
• Transit subsidies
• Continuity of operations

6. Positive Environmental Impact

The 3.9 million employees who worked from home at least half time before the pandemic reduced greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of taking more than 600,000 cars off the road for an entire year.

A whopping 7.8 billion vehicle miles aren’t traveled each year for those who work at least part-time from home, 3 million tons of greenhouse gases (GHG) are avoided, and oil savings reach $980 million.

7. Impact on Sustainability

Remote work supports a variety of sustainability initiatives, from economic growth and reduced inequalities, to sustainable cities, climate change, and responsible consumption.

8. A Customizable Office

Being able to create a comfortable home office is an excellent benefit of remote work.

Whether you simply want a more ergonomic chair or you have health issues that require specialised office equipment, you can set up your home office and make it whatever you want.

9. Increased Productivity and Performance

Working from home usually leads to fewer interruptions, less office politics, a quieter noise level, and less (or more efficient) meetings.

Add in the lack of a commute, and remote workers typically have more time and fewer distractions, which leads to increased productivity.

10. A Happier, Healthier Work Life

Remote, flexible workers tend to be happier and more loyal employees, in part because working from home has been shown to lower stress