The working world is changing. Virtual employees have been on the rise for the last decade, and the Coronavirus pandemic accelerated this even further. Now over 50% of British adults work from home, and virtual work is becoming the new normal.
But are virtual employees as successful as employees who work in an office? Can they really help your business to succeed?
The answer is yes. Virtual assistants are just as efficient as other employees, and they can benefit your business in lots of surprising ways. Here are five reasons to hire a virtual assistant.
1. Why The Best Assistants Are Virtual: Costs Will Be Reduced
One of the main benefits of hiring a virtual assistant is that costs are normally reduced. When you hire a full-time employee, you must pay their salary, holiday pay, sick leave, worker’s compensation and taxes, but if you hire an independent contractor they will handle their own expenses. This can save a considerable amount of money, which is ideal for start-ups and new businesses with a tight budget.
2. You Will Have More Flexibility
Most office assistants work a standard nine to five, but remote employees tend to be more flexible. For instance, it is possible to hire a virtual assistant who only works evenings and weekends, which could be better suited to your business needs. It is also possible to hire employees who work in different time zones, which can be useful if you have a business with unconventional hours. It can also be useful if you want to provide your customers with 24/7 support, as you can use a selection of remote workers to cover all of the hours.
3. You Can Find The Exact Skills Your Business Needs
Every business requires different skills to succeed. Maybe you need a new company logo, but you don’t have a graphic designer on board. Maybe you want to improve your website speed, but you don’t know a web developer. No matter what the issue is, you will be able to find a virtual assistant with the specific skill set you need. This makes it much easier for your business to succeed over time.
4. Your Assistant May Be More Productive
A recent study from HR Grapevine found that office workers are productive for less than three hours a day. This can be a huge waste of money, especially if you have a tight budget – but remote employees are less likely to have the same issue. This is because many remote employees are paid per project, rather than hourly, so they are more incentivized to be productive and efficient. So they work harder, and they complete projects quickly – a win-win situation for any employer!
5. You Can Focus On Self-Improvement
Do you feel overworked regularly? Are you constantly putting in extra hours? If so, hiring a virtual assistant will give you more time to focus on yourself and your business. This will give you peace of mind, a better work-life balance and less stress – and it also means you will feel more refreshed and inspired, so you are more likely to come up with innovative business ideas!
