by Ginni Saraswati, owner and founder of Ginni Media
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spring of 2020, businesses in virtually every industry all around the world have faced dramatic operational shifts. Not the least of these has been seen through an increased amount of remote employees in the workforce. Before the pandemic, less than 20% of employees worked remotely for five or more days each week, compared to nearly 50% at the pandemic’s height.
Now, as society is slowly returning to a semblance of normalcy, many companies are seeking to bring their employees back into the office. While many studies have been conducted to show the benefits and pitfalls of working remotely since the pandemic’s onset, allowing employees to continue working remotely – and even shifted hiring practices to focus primarily on hiring remote and freelance employees – provides benefits to both a company and their workforce alike.
Broader Talent Pools
At Ginni Media, our team members are from all around the world. We have freelancers and remote employees in 14 different countries across 6 continents. There’s no “location requirement” at our company, no commute time necessary, and no requirement for them to show up to any kind of office.
Since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies and employers have recognized the benefits that a distributed workforce can provide. According to Matt Abbott, head of Recruiting Services at San Francisco-based recruiting firm The Sourcery, removing such requirements for employees has allowed more business owners and stakeholders to learn that they can “recruit top, diverse talent more easily if those location restrictions are removed.”
For our company and others like us, Abbott’s insight could not ring more true. Leaning on a diversified, global talent pool has been standard practice even before the COVID-19 pandemic, and has been a leading contributor to Ginni Media doubling its year-over-year revenue since officially launching in 2018.
Happier Employees
Diverse team members isn’t the only focus for companies looking to hire a larger number of remote-based employees and freelancers. In fact, there is a multitude of data available that shows employees and freelancers who work remotely feel happier overall than their in-office counterparts. This is especially true for creative freelancers, as working remotely brings with it the freedom and flexibility to design and plan their workday.
We highly value freedom at Ginni Media, which includes the freedom to work at the times that are most convenient for each individual. Some people truly thrive when working at nine o’clock in the morning, but some find that the best time to tap into their creative genius is at two o’clock in the morning. Flexibility also allows for more freedom in the workday to spend time with or care for children or family on a regular basis as well.
Working in whatever time frames or schedule is best for the individual grants them the freedom to decide when they want to get their work done. As a result, remote employees and freelancers are happier and have more opportunities to tap into their creative zone, which also comes heavily into play regarding freelancers’ productivity on their work.
Freedom and flexibility alone, however, are not solely the secrets to a successful team. With such flexibility around each workday, a productive team must value communication, self-awareness, and individual dedication to the company’s mission. At Ginni Media, the community culture is founded on connection, openness, and personal growth – all of which support a virtual environment that balances freedom, productivity, and happiness at work.
24/7 Productivity
Along with the benefits of being able to pick candidates from a global talent pool and retain them for longer due to increased levels of happiness, hiring remote freelancers has also shown to offer businesses a significant boost in their productivity levels and output capacity. This is because freelancers are inherently more passionate about their work.
People start a freelancing career because they love their craft and the industry they work within. This also contributes to individual happiness and creates a positive company culture. Because our freelancers are located around the world, this means that our company’s productivity is constantly ongoing throughout the workweek.
Indeed, hiring freelancers can pose a higher benefit to businesses, but especially for companies that are looking to grow and scale their production more rapidly. When one person finishes their workday and logs off, the next person in the workflow can pick it right up at the beginning of their workday – all without missing a beat – further narrowing the space between task completion and meeting organizational goals.
Closing Remarks
Though many employers remain averse to hiring freelancers due to the potential risks of non-commitment and missed deadlines, we believe the risks are far outweighed by the potential benefits. Hiring freelancers can not only help your business scale and grow faster, but also help create and foster a more positive work environment and inclusive company culture, making your freelancers happier and your company more productive in the long run.
Ginni Saraswati is the owner and founder of Ginni Media, a one-stop-shop podcasting production house providing multiple podcast services in one company. Ginni Media has worked with clients including Allure, Architectural Digest, and Siemens. You can follow The Ginni Show on Twitter.
