Is Remote Work Here To Stay?

New data reveals what's changed.

• Remote work is here to stay as we move out of lockdown. In our latest study, a third of workers report that they're working from home more than a quarter of the time today, compared with just 16 percent who did so in 2012. What's more, half could see themselves working from home on a permanent basis—a figure that was 38 percent in 2012 and 40 percent in 2013.

• Employees are happier when they work remotely. Overall job satisfaction is higher among remote employees than those who travel into the office every day or have flexible schedules (78% versus 68% and 77%, respectively). And while both remote workers and those with flexible schedules say they're satisfied with their careers (89%), only 31% of people who commute into the office say they are happy with theirs—the lowest percentage across the board.

As we move out of lockdown mode and back into the business world, remote work will become an integral part of our lives again. Remote work has become a permanent option for many companies and individuals, especially as we continue to enter into times of crisis.

Many individuals and companies have taken advantage of this opportunity because it allows them to stay safe while they are away from the pandemic. Remote work also helps employees get more done during the day because they can focus on the task at hand instead of finding a quiet place to work or worrying about safety issues like being exposed outside during daylight hours or encountering other people who may be sick.

Internet Empowering Collaboration

The internet promised to make the world a smaller place for business but few firms, it seems, want all their staff back in the office.

As companies become more environmentally conscious and realize that remote work is a viable alternative, many are choosing to go remote. It is more efficient and cost-effective than traditional offices.

As remote work becomes more popular, it’s important to remember that it's not right for everyone. Remote work has several benefits, but it also comes with some drawbacks.

See Related: Hybrid Work Is Doomed

Fortunately, most of the people who are not suited for remote work can make up these shortcomings by making a few adjustments to their daily routine. For example:

• They can choose workplaces that offer flexible hours or telecommuting policies when they’re available; and if those options aren’t available at their current workplace, then they may want to consider finding another job somewhere else where there are more flexible working arrangements in place.

• They could also try asking their bosses about working from home once per week (or bi-weekly) instead of every day—which could help save both time and money since commuting costs will be reduced significantly when you're only driving back home once every few weeks instead of every single day!

It's More Than Just Health Concerns

There are many factors at play here, but the main one is flexibility. Flexibility is important because it allows employees to work remotely when they want to, while also allowing them the freedom to work in an office setting if they need or want that too. This helps foster trust between the employee and employer as well as among co-workers who may not be working remotely.

Another major consideration is keeping in touch with your team on a regular basis—and being able to keep your finger on the pulse of what’s happening with your company overall. If you feel like you can’t do this when working remotely, then there might be something wrong with your company culture or structure (or both).

One of the greatest things about remote work is that it affords employees a certain level of freedom and independence. They can now use this time as motivation to renegotiate their contract with their employer.

Employers will be more willing to negotiate as they need to retain their employees who are already doing so well in the business. This is great news for anyone looking for a better pay or flexible working conditions, since now there's an incentive for both sides of the hiring table!

The New Normal

Managers must accept that remote work is here to stay. Employees are likely to expect a better balance between their professional and personal lives, which means managers must be more flexible when it comes to employee schedules. Organizations who fail to ease their onsite working requirements will find challenges in attracting talent and retaining talent, and more importantly will become part of the problem with "The Great Resignation" movement instead of the solution.

Suggested Media: