How Remote Work facility could change 2021

To say that the coronavirus induced pandemic has changed our way of life would be an understatement. It has impacted the way we live, entertain ourselves, and, most of all, how we work. Gone are the days where your cubicle was where you got most of your work done and when the conference room hosted meetings that would decide the fate of the business. Today, more work is done from the comfort of our couch and through the internet than ever before. But what does this mean for the future? Is it a sustainable form of work, or will we all be forced to return to our sad office spaces once everything blows over?

Benefits of Remote working

There are many obvious benefits to shifting your workplace from the office to your house. Not only has it helped in creating a socially distanced environment without effecting gross productivity; in many situations, it has even contributed to improved productivity.

As per a survey conducted by the SAS Concur, more than 80% of Indians that they surveyed revealed that they preferred to work from home, and almost 70% believed that it has helped to improve productivity. However, this does not mean that everything in the garden is rosy. A significant percentage of the workforce feel that they are finding it harder to separate their work life from their personal life. There is also concern that the work from home culture will create an environment where you are expected to be available even outside your normal business hours.

However, the benefits of remote working far outweigh the negatives. Thanks to this new model of business, people are happier, healthier and have also admitted that it has helped them to come closer to their family and loved ones. In fact, almost three-quarters of the population have admitted that they do not want to return to give up the benefit of working from home. This is mainly due to the fact that they believe that they will jeopardise their work and life balance like in the past.

Challenges of remote working

There are a few challenges to remote working that need to be addressed before it becomes a mainstay. One of the main issues that companies will face with remote working is the lack of streamline communication. While facilities Zoom calls and Microsoft Teams have made it possible for people to communicate and create a sort of virtual office space, it is still not as effective or efficient as in an office space. The same can be said about worker engagement. Working away from your office makes it harder for your achievements to be highlighted. As remote working becomes the new norm, employees will have to put in more effort to be noticed and appreciated. The same is true when it comes to performance management. Companies are now concerned about the amount of work done rather than the number of hours spent and will have to invest in remote employee management tools to make sure that maximum productivity is achieved. They will also have to create new roles like Director of Remote Work to oversee the employees and their performance, new parameters to setting goals and more.

There is also a growing concern regarding cybersecurity when it comes to remote working. As more and more people from an organisation continue to work from home, companies will have to come up with better cybersecurity measures, including how and who gets access to their data.

These are just minor setbacks when compared to the advantages of remote working. These advantages are not just limited to the employee. The company is also able to save a lot of money and resources by turning to a completely remote working environment. They are also able to improve employee satisfaction and happiness, which is always sure to pay back dividends in the future.

Remote working in 2021

While 2020 will be considered the year of remote working, it is just the beginning of a trend that will continue in the future. The number of people that will be permanently working from home is expected to double in 2021. Similarly, Forbes estimates that more than 70% of the workforce will be working remotely for most of the week by 2025. While an increase in remote working opportunities was always expected to happen, such a sudden and permanent shift was only caused by the onset of the COVID19 pandemic. Many top tech companies like Facebook and Twitter are at the forefront of this change as they have revealed their decision to continue allowing their employees to work remotely even after the pandemic is behind us. There are already many industries like the direct selling industry, where the bulk of the business has always been carried out in a remote working model, and they are living proof that remote working is not only feasible but also beneficial for both the employer and employee.

Remote working is the new norm, and companies and individuals will have to adapt to it. In fact, a survey conducted by Mercer found out that more than 90% of the employers are happy with the productivity that they have seen during the pandemic, even with the employees working remotely. Yes, there are a few issues that need to be addressed, including improving digital infrastructure and cybersecurity. It will also mean that many companies will have to reinvent their business model and policies. But if the current statistics and numbers are to be believed, then remote working is the future of business.