Remote work has disrupted the job market in so many ways. Even though it was a growing trend in the past, the pandemic accelerated its adaptation, and now, the remote working population is bigger than ever. However, ever since businesses started to open back up, the question remains the same, “what is the future of remote work?”
Even though we can’t make direct affirmations as to what will truly happen, we can surely take a look at the hints the current work dynamic gives us. In this article, we will share some of the possible predictions for the future of remote work.
Is Remote Work Efficient For Companies?
At first, most companies were hesitant about having remote workers because they thought productivity would decrease. It is logical to assume this, considering we have many distractions at home, whether it is the TV, family members, our pet, or anything. However, this affirmation is just far from reality.
Airtasker surveyed 1,004 US employees in 2020 to evaluate the productivity level of remote workers compared to its office counterparts. In this survey, almost half of employees were working at the office while the rest stayed home.
The results revealed that remote employees experienced productivity than office workers. They had less unproductive time and additional 10 mins of work every day.
The Current State Of Remote Work
Today, businesses have already started opening their doors, which means that some people will go back to offices. However, with the surprising success of remote work, some companies are reconsidering how they’ll approach it in the future. Remote work increases productivity and lowers costs associated with office rentals, electricity, water consumption, and more.
According to the 2021 state of the salary report from Hired, 66 percent of employers plan to go back to offices with a hybrid model. 52 percent of employees would prefer work from home dynamic with optional office time, while only one percent want to go back to offices full-time.
The increase in productivity is usually related to reduced stress, work-life balance, and time-management skills. While other professionals like software developers or digital marketers were already used to working from home, others would have to adapt and learn new remote working skills.
What Does The Future Hold For Remote Work?
The future of remote work seems to be leaning towards a hybrid approach. Of course, not all employees can work from home because on-site employees are still required in some companies. However, there’s a large population that will be working remotely more often or completely.
Remote workers will experience certain challenges that will have to be addressed in the future. According to Buffer’s State of Remote Work report, more than 70 percent of employers don’t pay for their workers’ internet or coworking spaces. Here’s an insight into what the future holds for remote work below.
New Demands
A couple of years after the pandemic, we started experiencing a weird phenomenon called the Great Resignation where employees massively quit their jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 4.3 million workers left their jobs in 2021. Some of the reasons for quitting their jobs were related to fatigue, uncertainty, and low salaries.
Some tech companies opted for paying remote workers based on their location. However, according to Hired’s report, 58 percent of employees wouldn’t accept a salary cut in exchange for working remotely.
Now, employees want to change the work dynamic and expect to have better salaries that cope with todays’ inflation, work-life balance, and more stability.
Investment in More Technology
Companies going fully remote or hybrid will need to invest in more technology to improve communication and streamline processes while working remotely. This means they might have to invest in videoconferencing tools, software development, cyber security, and cloud services to help them manage corporate data.
Final Thoughts
The remote working trend is not going anywhere. Companies have experienced increased productivity and reduced costs that benefit them, and employees appreciate their work-life balance. However, in order to reduce their turnover rates, employers may have to adapt to employees’ demands and provide more stability and better salaries.
