6 Reasons Older Americans Should Consider Remote Work

Virtual Vocation CEO Laura Spawn writes in Thrive Global why older professionals could benefit from remote employment. First, remote jobs let professionals work from virtually anywhere, allowing them to forgo the headache and cost of commuting and spend more time with loved ones or hobbies. Remote workers also can set their own schedule, and choose which shift they work or which days they take off, making trips away from work easier to plan. A third advantage of remote work is that it can help older workers recoup some of the costs of taking care of loved ones like grandchildren, as well as provide an income for their family without forcing them to leave loved ones with a sitter or relatives who may need them alone for hours during the day. Spawn adds that virtual jobs encourage a results-oriented work environment free from the stigma of ageism that modern offices are prone to, and offer income to supplement older workers' Social Security. Moreover, she notes that "remote jobs can provide an avenue to work for those with limited mobility or who simply prefer staying at home."