A new survey from Accountemps, a specialized staffing service for accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals, has found that companies offering remote working opportunities are on the rise. According to the report, which includes results from interviews with 270 chief financial officers (CFOs) based in companies across Canada, 11 per cent of CFOs said that offering employees the option to work remotely or from home had increased in the last three years.

Of those surveyed, 34 per cent said that the primary benefits of remote working arrangements included higher employee morale and retention. Access to a broader talent pool was a perk mentioned by 14 per cent of respondents.

“As mobile technology has become more accessible, providing telecommuting work options could be a smart move by firms to help them compete for talent without being restricted to specific geographical areas or time zones,” says Dianne Hunnam-Jones, Canadian district president of Accountemps. “Although telecommuting is not an option for every role, it can be a valuable perk when it comes to sweetening the compensation package.”

Additional benefits mentioned by employers included increased productivity due to reduced commute times (8 per cent) and savings resulting from requiring less office space (7 per cent).