Opening Statement:
This specific celebration and awareness highlight the positive impacts that working from home can have on a person’s physical, mental, emotional, social, and financial well-being. Founded by NexRep, a Marketplace Platform that enables thousands of Americans to work from home, the holiday provides people with the opportunity to discover the benefits of working from home and consider whether it fits well with their own lifestyle and wellness goals. While most of us embraced working from home during the COVID-19 Pandemic, working from home has been around since the early 1970’s.
History Of National Work from Home for Wellness Day
· NexRep created the holiday in 2023 as part of their vision to positively transform the lives of people working within the contact center industry. After spending 14 years leading the work-at-home movement, they wanted to create a holiday that highlights the wellness benefits that remote workers enjoy as well as provide a platform through which people who don’t currently work at home can be informed on its benefits and evaluate if it’s a lifestyle choice they should consider.
· While we can trace working from home as far back as the hunter-gatherers, it was NASA engineer Jack Nilles who shed light on the benefits of remote work in 1973 when he coined the term ‘telecommuting.’ With companies putting increasing emphasis on employee well-being, remote work has been growing consistently since 2010. That growth was accelerated dramatically by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when the lockdown meant many businesses embraced the work-from-home culture.
· NexRep, having been champions of a work-at-home lifestyle long before the pandemic, created National Work from Home for Wellness Day to let people know that earning an income from home is not only possible, it can provide many positive lifestyle benefits. There are physical, mental, and financial benefits to working from home for those who want to embrace a different working culture from the comfort of home.
Questions, Facts, and Answers:
· Are There Any Cost Benefits of Working from Home?
NexRep’s survey found that people who worked from home reported average annual savings of $7,763. The major savings were on transport costs, food, and childcare.
· What kind of work-from-home opportunities does NexRep offer?
NexRep is a Marketplace Platform that connects US-based contact center professionals with third-party clients. The NexRep Marketplace Platform is designed to empower independent contractors to provide services from home and create their own schedules, all while delivering world-class customer experiences and exceptional results for top American companies. Independent contracting opportunities include customer care, inbound sales, outbound sales, and more!
How To Celebrate National Work from Home for Wellness Day
· Enter the ‘Work from Home and Be Well’ giveaway
NexRep’s $2,000 giveaway will give one lucky winner a brand-new home office. The prize includes a desktop computer, dual monitors, a wired headset, a webcam, a FlexiSpot standing desk, an ergonomic office chair, and an air purifier.
· Research work-from-home opportunities
If you’re not currently working from home but are interested to explore it further, you could spend the day looking into the remote work opportunities available. With many more companies now embracing the work-at-home culture, the opportunities available are diverse and rewarding.
· Add a healthy habit to your routine
Use this holiday to embrace the freedom that remote work provides by introducing healthy habits into your routine. Whether it’s preparing a healthy meal in your kitchen, doing a fun workout during your lunch, or taking a walk during the time you’d normally spend commuting, there are ample opportunities to make positive changes in your life.
5 Benefits of Working from Home
1. Better quality sleep
61% of respondents to NexRep’s survey reported better quality sleep working from home compared to when they worked outside of the home.
2. Less anxiety
75% of respondents from the same survey said they felt less stressed and anxious about work when working from home.
3. Managing health
92% of respondents who reported having a disability or chronic illness said that working from home has made it easier to manage.
4. Stronger relationships
68% of those asked felt that they enjoyed better relationships with family and friends since working from home.
5. It’s great for the environment
Based on the average commute of the survey respondents, working from home saved the equivalent of 461 gallons of gasoline per driver per year.
Why National Work from Home for Wellness Day Is Important
· There are mental and emotional benefits
NexRep surveyed nearly 400 people who have spent some time working at home with 82% of respondents reporting that they feel less stress since choosing to work remotely. The same percentage of people also reported that remote work has enabled them to manage their stress more effectively.
· It encourages a better work/life balance
It encourages a better work/life balance. By cutting out the commute and offering more flexibility to how people structure their working day, working from home helps people create a healthier work/life balance. This is reflected in NexRep’s survey, with 83% of respondents reporting a better work/life balance when working from home.
· It creates a more diverse talent pool
It’s not just the employee who benefits from a work-at-home culture. By not restricting their workforce to people who can make it into the office, a company can expand the areas in which they search for talent and embrace diversity in the process.
Closing Statement and Recap:
While conducting my research I learned that it was in the 1940s during World War II, the computer was used to crack enemy codes during the war. It was the computer that arranged the foundation for the work-from-home movement. In 1973, ‘Telecommuting’ took off considering the “Clean Air Act” being passed. The “Federal Flexible Workplace Pilot Project” was implemented in 1990 by the US Government as they launched an experiment to assess the benefits and challenges of allowing employees to work at locations other than their government office base. During the start of the 2020 Global pandemic, worldwide lockdowns enforced leading to a huge portion of businesses and employees embracing the work-from-home culture permanently. For myself as well as others with disabilities, having the opportunity to work from home provides jobs for us and a positive way to contribute to the workforce, economy, and within the community.
Source of Information: Various Google Searches
Until Next Week, Stay Safe and Well!
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