As we all look to a hopeful future, business leaders are asking themselves: Is remote work viable in the long term?
The 2021 Global Survey of People Working At Least Partially Remotely found that 80% of respondents would recommend this work style to friends. While this represents a 10% decline from the previous year's findings, it still shows that the overwhelming majority of people prefer to work from home – or at least away from the office.
Before the pandemic, remote work was an option for some workers, but it was hardly the norm. Fast forward to a year and a half after COVID-19, and many employees are working exclusively from home.
But as we all look to a hopeful future where the pandemic will be a distant memory, business leaders are left wondering: Is remote work sustainable?
Benefits
Greater productivity
Omdia's Future of Work survey found that 68% of companies believe their employee productivity has increased since transitioning to remote work. These findings are consistent with research on remote work productivity conducted before the pandemic.
These conclusions go against the skepticism of some leaders regarding productivity and remote work, with many believing that this would decline, given the distractions that abound at home and other factors.
Cost benefit
Employees and companies save money when remote work becomes part of the equation. For one, employees don't have to deal with costly commutes, while employers save on overhead expenses, including office space and equipment. The savings can really add up – as much as approximately $11,000 per employee each year, according to research.
Talent acquisition and retention
A 2021 FlexJobs Study found that 58% of respondents “would definitely look for a new job if they were unable to continue remote work.” The remote job search site also found that 24% of workers would be willing to take a 10-20% pay cut if it meant they could work remotely, while 21% would give up some of their vacation time.
This suggests that employers will be better able to attract and retain employees if they offer remote work as an option.
Disadvantages
Lack of collaboration
When you can't see your employees and colleagues in person, collaboration can be more difficult. A good portion will inevitably occur asynchronously, which is often difficult for people who are not used to this type of work arrangement.
Fortunately, collaboration is not impossible in a remote work environment. We’ll look at some strategies to make this easier below.
Exhaustion
Work-life balance is even more difficult when employees work in the same environment as they live. With blurred boundaries, they can easily work long hours and feel exhausted, leading to burnout.
Zoom Fatigue
Communication has also become more difficult with the remote work scenario. Many organizations now rely on video conferencing platforms for meetings and check-ins. While this works for some purposes, many people are finding that virtual meetings are becoming too frequent. This has led to a phenomenon that now has its own nickname: “Zoom fatigue.”
One study found that this phenomenon is becoming increasingly prevalent, especially among women. Out of 10,322 surveyed, 1 in 7 women reported feeling very or extremely tired after Zoom calls.
How to Make Remote Work a Long-Term Success
1. Have a plan
Of course, a solid plan is critical for remote work to be successful. Collaborate closely with other leaders in your organization and get input from your employees about their priorities and what they need to do their jobs effectively. You can, for example, administer an anonymous survey to learn about necessary aspects of work-from-home plans.
2. Provide the right tools
Keep in mind that employees will likely need specific programs, systems and software to complete their work. These tools vary depending on your roles, but for the most part, everyone will benefit from collaboration tools and cybersecurity software.
There are probably also other solutions that are critical for the vast majority of your employees. It's up to you to work with your IT team to determine what they are and how to successfully install them on your employees' devices.
3. Improve your onboarding and training process
You probably already have an onboarding and training process for new employees, but it will need a review to incorporate information and skills specific to remote work. For example, your employees will need specific skills to work from home, as well as knowing how to use certain tools.
Even experienced employees who have been with your organization for years will need to learn new skills to adapt to a different environment, and your plan should take this into account.
4. Safeguard the balance between personal and professional life
We discussed how work-life balance is threatened by the remote scenario. Help preserve your employees' mental health – which, in turn, will keep them engaged in their jobs – by taking steps to support this balance.
For example, you might institute an end time policy, insisting that employees stop work and check their email at a specific time after their designated work hours. You can also hold non-work related check-ins and socializing events.
5. Consider hybrid
It doesn't have to be all or nothing. Today, many employers are combining the best of both worlds and adopting a hybrid workplace model. Typically, this means that some employees arrive at the office on specific days, such as Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, while others arrive on other days, such as Tuesday and Thursday.
This way, employees enjoy the benefits of remote work part of the time and can collaborate in person with their colleagues the rest of the time. It's a win-win situation.
There's a lot to consider when it comes to remote work, but it can be a sustainable workplace model. Leaders must put effort into the process to ensure they have an appropriate model for their business and have everyone on board to make it work for them.
Source: BairesDev
