Thousands of companies lost valuable work days last week during the worst blizzard since 1982.

For those who work from home however, it was business as usual for the most part.

As the country recovers from the chaos caused by the ‘Beast from the East’, more Cork employers are giving the idea of remote working some serious thought – and it could be your chance to enjoy a few brilliant benefits that setting up a home office can offer.

According to Vanessa Tierney, co-founder of Abodoo, there is a strong business case for remote working, year-round.

“If employees can work from home, they don’t have to venture out and try to drive to work in perilous conditions. During storms, remote working is the safest and most sensible option.” said Ms Tierney.

But there’s more to it than that.

“Apart from avoiding disruption during bad weather, remote working leads to cost-savings, better retention levels, higher rates of employee satisfaction, and greater opportunities for working parents, people with disabilities, and those living outside major urban areas,” she added.

“It’s better for the environment because people need to commute less, and it allows people more choice in where they live and the type of homes they buy.”

Not convinced? Here are seven more reasons to convince your boss or broach the subject with your staff:

• Remote workers save, on average, between €2,000 and €7,000 and hundreds of hours of travel time per year – just by removing their daily commute.
• 82% of those who work from home report lower stress levels as a result.
• 58% of companies in Ireland (in a 2016 survey of 540 companies) confirmed they are investing in cloud technology, of which 46% confirmed this would benefit remote working.
• 15% of large multinational companies in Ireland now support home-working, and this figure is increasing year on year.
• Companies that promote remote working report an increase in staff retention of over 50 per cent; and a reduction in absenteeism of 63%.
• 91% of companies that facilitate remote working experience increased productivity.
• Companies will save on average of €11,000 per employee that is remote and many start by implementing a hybrid or flexible model.