The rise of remote work

As it currently stands, the 9 to 5 job is out and remote work is in. Technology has empowered individuals to work from anywhere and at anytime, eliminating the need to be glued to an office desk for most of the day in order to get the job done. While technology is the underlying enabler of remote work, it has taken off across countries and companies because of the various benefits it offers. It helps businesses save costs and attract and retain employees. For employees, it leads to greater satisfaction levels, greater productivity, and it encourages a healthier work-life balance.

Remote work statistics

16% of companies are fully remote
52% of employees around the world work from home at least once a week
18% of employees work remotely full time
69% of millennials will trade other benefits for the option to work remotely
76% of workers would be more loyal to their companies if they allowed remote work
40% of remote workers say the number one advantage of remote work is having a flexible schedule
22% of remote workers struggle with unplugging from work
84% of remote workers prefer to work from home
Remote workers are 35-40% more productive
By 202, 26% of the remote workforce will be Gen Z
Companies that offer remote work improve their retention rates by 10%
Businesses can save up to $11,000 per employee every year by allowing them to work from home

* https://www.owllabs.com/state-of-remote-work

Common questions about remote work

While remote work is slowly becoming a new normal, there are many who aren’t yet convinced of the true potential and advantages of remote work. Some common issues that prevent companies from introducing remote work policies can be overcome by having a solid remote work policy and a clear process of how team members will communicate.

Managing a remote workforce

Managing a remote workforce is not an easy task and it requires effort and intentionality. It is a tricky situation where companies need to strike a balance between regular, on-going communication and making sure workers don’t feel micromanaged. One underlying requirement for remote work to work is to fully trust staff and that they will get done what needs to be done. On the other end of the spectrum is the fact that you don’t want your workers to feel isolated, as this can lead to low engagement levels.

A good scheduling software package is a must for any organization but it’s especially critical for those with staff in various locations. Deputy has a tool to help schedule employees that work in multiple office locations and is perfect for managing remote employees.

Communication

For remote work to be a successful endeavor, communication is key. There are various ways to approach this factor; some companies use collaboration apps like Slack, Trello, and Asana. Others use Skype, Go to Meeting, or Zoom in order to have regular video calls; and then there are companies that have designed their own intranet to conduct all internal communication issues. Whichever option you choose, the idea is for your company’s remote workers to always have open channels of communication with colleagues and supervisors.

Productivity

The truth is that remote workers are more productive than their in-office counterparts. This is true, despite the fact that many, at first, believed that letting professionals work from home would lead to lower performance as working from home they would be more likely to be distracted by home issues. Luckily, recent reports have found that the opposite is true and that remote workers tend to be more engaged with their work. One possible explanation for this is that remote workers can choose (to a certain extent) the hours in which they work, giving them more control over their lives.