No one can predict the future of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we can predict that remote work will play a key role in helping businesses survive.
Two years ago, remote work had a very different connotation than it does today. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, it was something offered by flexible, tech-savvy companies – perhaps only occasionally. Today, most employers around the world have at least some form of remote work policy and framework.
As of January 2020, annual Zoom meetings stood at 101 billion . Fast forward to October 2020 and they reached 3.3 trillion. Revenue has also soared during the ongoing pandemic. This indicates that a growing number of workers and companies are making teleworking an integral part of their operations.
All indications point to the pandemic persisting for some time. But even after COVID-19 is largely a distant memory, it's more than likely that we'll see remote work continue in some form for the foreseeable future. This raises the question: what will that future look like, precisely?
Major Disruptions Ahead
Of course, we must take into account major disruptions to the work scenario. This is true at any time, but especially during a time of great upheaval. Adam Ozimek, labor economist at Upwork, said the transition we have already experienced during the pandemic is “modest” compared to what we will see in the immediate future.
“The first thing that happened was that a lot of companies and a lot of workers discovered that remote work works better than they thought,” he said. He envisions startups, in particular, considering asynchronous work and embracing new technology platforms to make this possible.
Ozimek also advised employers to consider outsourcing models and looking for freelancers to offload some of the work. Many companies are using this model to connect with workers around the world and find the right solution for their teams.
Hybrid vs. Remote
Many companies have pursued a hybrid model, combining remote and in-person work as a compromise. But according to Forrester's Predictions for 2022: The Future of Work report, this will require some adjustments. Of the 60% of companies that choose to use a hybrid approach, approximately one-third will initially fail.
That's because hybrid work is a new phenomenon, at least for many companies. As they navigate the challenges associated with the unknown, they must be prepared to deal with frantic scheduling issues, complex software, and a multitude of changing policies.
Organizations will demand transparency and openness to new technologies to face these and other obstacles. They may also require the skills of qualified IT professionals to help them navigate this world.
Keeping employees informed
A huge challenge that organizations of all types face during these difficult times is keeping employees informed about what they are doing. Communication silos, in particular, can disrupt any worker.
McKinsey found that 40% of employers said they had not heard any “vision” from their employer and another 28% had only heard vague information. This, they agreed, is contributing to anxiety about the future of their jobs and careers.
While no employer knows for sure what will happen with the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the workplace, employers can do their part by being transparent with their employees as they overcome the obstacles it presents. According to McKinsey, organizations that provide detailed plans about their policies and plans see an increase in their employees' productivity. well-being and productivity .
A “digital inflection point”
“I believe we are at a digital inflection point,” wrote Quyen Pham vice president of sales and marketing at Swoon.
Pham pointed to a sharp increase in digital interactions, especially on Zoom and other video conferencing tools. “This is a critical time for business leaders as they must adapt to new digital needs, or risk becoming completely obsolete in the world of work.”
Adopting sustainable digital technologies and digital transformation will be key in adapting to a remote scenario. This has proven to be vital over the last 2 years and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. Fortunately, it is not too late for those who are a little behind to orient themselves in this direction, as long as they do so sooner rather than later. Learning management systems (LMS), enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, and other tools will be essential to making this transition.
The War for Talent and the Great Resignation
We're still in the midst of the so-called Great Resignation , where employees are leaving en masse to pursue new opportunities. This is linked to the War for Talent in which employers compete for the best professionals in all areas.
One way to prevent employees from leaving and attract top talent is to give them what they want – which includes flexible working. From asynchronous start and end times to freedom in how employees work – i.e. offering, at a minimum, remote-only options – to non-traditional approaches, there are many methods to meet the needs of current and future employees.
Additionally, employers should consider additional remote opportunities, such as those that will help workers learn and improve their skills, as well as interact with their colleagues.
What will the future of remote work look like? While we cannot predict the direction this pandemic will take, we can anticipate that the remote setting will play a huge role in helping organizations adapt and progress in an evolving professional landscape.
It will also be essential for competing and retaining top talent – as well as keeping employees engaged.
Source: BairesDev
