Remote Work: How the alternative has become the new norm!

The debate on the impact telework has on employee productivity & morale is one that has slowly aged with the improvement of technology, but never so important to discuss than in the current global pandemic state the world is faced with.

For decades the working class has enjoyed, and even thrived in the conventional 9-to-5 office workday with very little contention. In fact, most of the well-known productivity techniques are centered around the premise that employees can only maximize team cohesion & communication when working in a controlled work environment like the office.

But with the rise of the digital age and need to travel, the world has started to realize the value and need for remote work and set in place internal measures to promote alternative work methods that benefit the workforce.
 

Reimagining the 9-to-5 workday could improve productivity

The contemporary 9-to-5, eight-hour workday was imagined by American labor unions in the 1800s and normalized by Henry Ford in the 1920s. Most employees today simply accept this narrative because it’s what they have gotten so acquainted with. But despite the growing popularity in the demand for remote and flexible work, the need for a change in work culture has been met with much skepticism from managers. A recent study conducted by Remote Workplace Study explores the prime obstacles to implementing a flexible workplace policy: 

• Company’s long-standing resistance to change  
• Privacy
• Lack of understanding about the benefits of remote work
• Fear of how it will impact the overall company culture
• Technology requirements
• Data security

Understandably, managers have reservations about changing traditional work culture. Most concerns center around losing control of assessing team cohesiveness and potential reduction in employee productivity & focus. But despite this, change is inevitable. In fact, most studies confirm an increase in productivity, working “smarter” and willingness to work over-time when employees are given the flexibility to choose when and how to work. 

Millennials are driving the demand for flexible and remote work 

As of today, millennials (those born between 1981 and 1996) account for almost 50% of the global workforce and are expected to grow to 75% by 2025. This means that the need for companies to adopt flexible and remote work policies is more compelling today than ever before in order to attract and retain a younger, skilled workforce. 

There are equal benefits to jumping on the remote-work bandwagon for both companies and employees:

There are equal benefits to jumping on the remote-work bandwagon for both companies and employees:

For Companies

• Cost savings (office & overhead costs)
• Increase in productivity
• Employee retention & reduced turnover
• Profitability (companies save avg. $11, 000  per part-time telecommuter)
• Environmental benefits (less commuting to work reduces carbon footprint)
• Improved inclusivity and diversity (easier reach and accessibility to skilled talent from different demographics, races, and people with disabilities from all over the world)

For Employees

• Improved work-life balance
• Flexible schedule
• No commute (time and cost savings)
• Location independence (work from home/travel while working)
• More time to spend with family
• Expense savings (transportation, gas, & freedom  to live in low-cost cities)  

The world’s largest firms have endorsed remote working policies in the wake of Covid19

It’s no secret that the novel Coronavirus pandemic has played an integral role in the sudden surge of remote work policies implemented across companies worldwide. Big corporations such as Twitter, Facebook, Google, Amazon, & Microsoft have adopted such changes with Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey announcing that his employees can work remotely indefinitely. 

“... the work-from-home revolution is shaping the future of the workplace.”

Improved inclusivity and diversity (easier reach and accessibility to skilled talent from different demographics, races, and people with disabilities from all over the world)

Looking for a remote job?

Thanks to the internet, connecting skilled professionals with remote-friendly companies has never been easier. Whether you’re an experienced professional looking for your dream remote job or a remote-friendly company looking to hire the best talent, join Remote Workers today!