There’s a huge debate raging about the future of remote work. Some think it’s here to stay forever, while others believe it’s just a temporary fad. With so many opposing views, it’s confusing to figure out what will really happen.
In this article, I’ll take a fair, balanced look at remote working from my experienced perspective. I’ll share the honest pros and cons so you can decide for yourself if it has long-term staying power.
Key Points
- Working remotely alone provides a different perspective on a remote worker’s situation
- Companies that fully spread their teams might reduce overhead costs by saving money on rent and office furniture
- The need for workplace flexibility among employees has not reduced despite the drop in listings for remote work
- Working from home in high-value or collaborative roles in some jobs could be challenging
What is Remote Work?
Remote work is a working style that enables professionals to work outside of a regular office setting. It is founded on the idea that work must not be done in a specific location to be completed successfully.
Consider this: instead of commuting to an office daily to work from a particular workstation, remote employees can complete their assignments and achieve their objectives wherever they want. People can work from anywhere and schedule their days so that their professional and personal lives can be lived to their total capacity while coexisting amicably.
There has been a cultural paradigm shift in what society considers a respectable workplace and remote work has seized on that newfound.
Why do Individuals Work Remotely?
Now that I’ve explained remote work and how individuals do it daily, you may wonder why. Why would someone choose to work outside the office, and why would their manager let it happen?
Remote work benefits employees and organizations, ranging from higher productivity to happier, healthier staff. Let’s look at a couple of the advantages:
How Employees Benefits from Remote Work
#1. Remote Work Offers Employees a Flexible Lifestyle
At some point in my career, before I became a freelancer and, thereafter, an entrepreneur after working as a staff member in my workplace, I had many reasons to resign because it never gave me the time and opportunity I wanted to give my family. So, I started scouting for remote work, which I finally got. However, the most apparent reason I wanted to work remotely is that it would allow me to live a more flexible lifestyle. As a remote employee, I could focus on what is important to me outside the office when they are not expected to be there for a defined period. As a parent, I work earlier in the day to be present when the children get home from school or take time off for a doctor’s appointment.
#2. Improved Health and Wellness
Remote employees are far less stressed and have higher morale than their in-office colleagues.
According to my recent research on Public Health in the United Kingdom, 55% of participants experienced increased stress due to their commute. Employers foster fewer stressed-out employees by removing the drive and allowing remote employees to work in a comfortable setting.
Just look at this statistic: A 2014 study by PGi found that 69% of remote workers reported reduced absenteeism than non-remote employees. Workers did not feel the need to miss work without a valid reason since they were interested and focused on their role rather than anxious or pushed. Happier and healthier employees perform better at work and are more committed to their companies. From this point of view, remote employment is an excellent business.
#3. Renewed Enthusiasm for Their Job
From all indications, including my experience, remote workers produce their best work outside of the workplace. They are more motivated by their surroundings and can tune out ambient distractions as they see fit. Working remotely alone provides a different perspective on a remote worker’s situation. They regard it as motivation or a reward for their excellent work and are encouraged to continue exceeding their goals to maintain the lifestyle they have grown to enjoy.
How Employers Benefit from Remote Work
#1. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Remote employers contribute considerably to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) by encouraging geographical variety, facilitating inclusive hiring practices, and supporting flexible work arrangements. This method mitigates the biases inherent in traditional hiring, decreases in-person discrimination, and fosters a culturally diverse, internationally connected workforce.
Remote employers increase work-life balance, benefiting employees facing unique problems while boosting overall well-being. Furthermore, it provides possibilities for marginalized groups, promoting career growth and upward mobility. By embracing remote work, firms can foster an inclusive and varied workplace that values individuals for their skills and unique perspectives, regardless of location, enhancing employee satisfaction and retention.
#2. Increased Productivity
One of the most common arguments for remote work is the greater productivity of freedom. Remote employees are likelier to put in extra effort at work, going above and beyond to complete their tasks, than in-office employees. According to the State and Work Productivity Report, 65% of full-time employees believe working remotely will boost productivity, and their supervisors concur. Two-thirds of managers polled saw increased overall productivity from their remote workers.
#3. Engaged Employees
Aside from improved profit margins and higher-quality, more efficient work, firms provide remote work options to satisfy and motivate their employees.
Remote work is not a fad for employee engagement; nearly 75% of employees polled in a Softchoice study stated they would leave their current job for one that allowed remote work. That will pique the interest of businesses that want to retain talent.
Furthermore, according to research I made in my previous employment, remote employees reported being happier than non-remote employees.
#4. Cost Savings
Remote personnel also benefit a company’s bottom line. Companies that fully spread their teams might reduce overhead costs by saving money on rent and office furniture. To put that knowledge into context, I learned that my previous work firms could save $25,000 per remote worker each year, even if the entire team is not remote.
Review on Why Remote Working Will Die
According to my research, Zoom has declared that it will invite certain employees to return to work. According to the company’s new policy, close staff must return to work twice a week at the latest. This announcement simply continues a longer-standing pattern of workers returning to their jobs. Reluctant employees are being called back by several digital businesses, such as Google and Amazon, following a years-long experiment brought on by COVID-19 regulations.
These more significant occurrences are indicative of broader economic trends. According to my research, in January 2022, 47% of employees with remotely workable jobs reported doing so full-time from home. By February 2023, only 33% remained.
Why is this happening? Remote work is not practical for companies. A recent working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research supports this. The writers researched India’s data entry industry and discovered an instantaneous, on average, 12% loss in accuracy and productivity when working from home, which gradually rose to 18%.
Remember that this is, once more, the data input industry. After a pandemic, it’s challenging to think of many sectors better equipped to transition permanently from in-office to at-home work.
To be clear, the prevalence of remote work has not decreased since the epidemic. Additionally, many employees continue to do hybrid remote work, but working remotely is becoming less popular.
Why Remote Work Will Die
#1. Maximizing Assets
Employers worldwide spend a considerable portion of their money on office space. I remember when I submitted my resignation later, and my Boss asked why, I gave him my reasons, and he asked me what happened to the desks, chairs, printers, equipment, garbage cans, restroom supplies, cleaning supplies, and anything else that has been used to run the office. He told me it ignores the considerable capital on the books for mortgages and leases. If the boss is the only one in the office and everyone tenders their resignation. Why, then, does he need so much space? At that point, I felt a little regret, empathy, etc. To crown it all, he said he might begin to require onsite office presence to ensure that allocated space (and budgeted monies) are being used to justify the price.
#2. Remote Labour is Straining Large Cities
Businesses in formerly bustling city centers are closing quickly due to the sharp decline in business throughout the workday. The difficulty these businesses have honing their leases has a considerable trickle-down (or up) effect. Not only are several floors of office space vacant, but other companies that depend on employees being in the office are also having difficulties. This is adding fresh focus to the push to return to the office.
Better still, employers could eliminate the expense from their balance sheets by liquidating these assets. Pushing individuals back into the office could lower morale and productivity if no one wants to work there.
Typical Misconceptions About Remote Working
While remote work is becoming increasingly popular, there are still some misconceptions regarding this method. Here are the ones we hear most frequently:
#1. Remote Workers do Not Work
I’ve heard it enough! The stereotype of a remote worker is that they sit in bed all day in their pyjamas, drinking coffee and working occasionally, but not to the same extent as those who commute to the office daily. We know this is not true. I’ve seen a variety of styles from remote workers over the years, including those who get up early for a hike, shower, and hunker down for a day of focused creation, as well as those who get ready for the day as if they were going to an office setting, complete with polished outfit.
#2. Remote Workers Have Difficulty Communicating
Tru, remote workers are not present during in-person meetings. They may not be ingrained in water cooler talks or happy hour events, but their desire to stay connected to the team and succeed at work more than compensates. Video calls are the most straightforward way to hold meetings as a remote employee since they serve as a reminder that both parties are human and allow team members to develop virtual relationships.
#3. Remote Workers are “Always on”
Both employers and remote workers are afraid of this. Workers appreciate working remotely because it allows them to choose their hours, not because it makes work never end. Companies also don’t want remote workers to work endless hours because they worry they may burn out and become disinterested in their jobs. Establishing an early understanding of the hours an employee should anticipate being accessible and the times of day that allow for greater flexibility is crucial when establishing a remote work arrangement. Here are some excellent guidelines to help you establish limits when working remotely. Apart from establishing criteria for accessibility, remote teams must specify explicit expectations around correspondence and time.
Is Remote Work Going to End?
No!
75% of American workers who now work remotely or in a hybrid setting say they want to keep doing so. When skill in the supply chain is in high demand, deliberately deviating from this trend would be misguided.
According to my recent research on an article, a recent CEO survey found that almost four out of ten CEOs believe that a labour and skills shortage will be the top external disruptor of business strategy over the next 1 year.
There are a Few Exceptions!!!
While some businesses encourage remote work, others are cutting back on the amount of remote opportunities. Data from LinkedIn indicates that the percentage of remote work jobs decreased from 20% in February to 14% in September. However, the need for workplace flexibility among employees has not reduced despite the drop in listings for remote work. Over 50% of job seekers favoured remote positions.
Earlier this year, I watched a CNN story claiming that many CEOs call for their staff to return to the office a few days a week or more, suggesting a move toward hybrid employment. Some CEOs have gone to extreme lengths.
Here are a few signs that the popularity of remote work is waning.
#1. The Tech Sector is No Longer Totally on Board With Remote Work
As a result of the pandemic, tech businesses employed more remote workers. Face-to-face meetings were effectively replaced by virtual real-time communication between employees via video conferencing. Globally, teleworking has rapidly become adopted by many tech organizations. Employees did not always have to work from home for this type of business. Many resorted to co-working spaces, coffee shops, or even hotels to fulfil their employment obligations and achieve their career goals.
However, in the tech sector, working from home might not be the best option anymore. Many businesses that thought remote work was the “future of work” during the pandemic are gradually moving away. Many tech organizations share concerns regarding the advancement and skill development of junior employees who work from home. They also think cultural problems arise from a lack of face-to-face interaction with employees. When working remotely, employers find it more challenging to identify potential employees’ difficulties, such as unhappiness and health issues.
#2. The Option to Work from Home is Still Unavailable to Certain Employees
Certain employees have little to no possibility to work remotely, even in industries where it is commonplace. Working from home in high-value or collaborative roles in some jobs could be challenging. Industries like law and finance are less likely to permit employees to perform their duties remotely than other professions. These industries value workplace culture and demand face-to-face interactions. A friend who runs a company claims that remote work undermines the company culture. He feels that traders and bank branch staff should return to their locations.
Additionally, several industries cannot accommodate remote labor due to the need for specific machinery workers use. These include giving medical attention, running machinery, and using lab equipment. Furthermore, many tasks, such as order delivery and customer service processing in a store, cannot be completed remotely.
Because some tasks require physical presence, employees must be present in person or on-site. There are few or no opportunities to work from home in professions like property management, transportation, agriculture, and food services, and there aren’t many remote job ads for these career categories.
Why do CEOS hate remote work?
CEOs hate remote work because they feel it comes with insufficient communication and teamwork.
“Finding ways to engage people and make them feel like humans, not like numbers, is so important in leadership, and it is more difficult in a remote situation,” McDonald told FOX Business. It takes more effort and creativity.”
What is the weakness of remote work?
The weakness of remote work is handling isolation and decreased human interaction.
Gallup found that 21% of remote workers feel alone when working alone. When you’re working alone on your laptop without any watercooler discussions, the lack of human interaction might exacerbate feelings of loneliness.
Is Elon Musk against remote work?
In a CNBC interview, Musk referred to Silicon Valley’s remote workers as the “laptop class” who live in “la-la land.” He also branded work-from-home policies “morally wrong” and insisted all employees return to the office.
Why are remote workers unmotivated?
One of the most common causes of feeling unmotivated when working remotely is a lack of social interaction and solitude. Humans are social creatures who require social interactions to feel connected, stimulated, and motivated.
Are fully remote workers happier?
A recent Forbes survey found that “workers who worked from home 100% of the time were 20% happier on average than those who couldn’t work from home.” The study also discovered a “strong correlation between work happiness and overall happiness.”
Why is remote work depressing?
Despite the lack of a recognized cause-and-effect relationship, working from home may exacerbate variables that contribute to depression. Remote work eliminates the incidental interactions between coworkers in an office setting, which can result in feelings of isolation and loneliness.
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