aking up every morning and leaving our house to go to work was a mandatory requirement - or at least something that most of us couldn’t picture otherwise.
The reality was that we were losing a lot of time commuting, but also wasted precious moments outside of work. And when we think that in a full on-site job scenario, employers also spend a lot of money on rent and utilities we end up thinking - isn’t a fully remote scenario the best future of work?
We all have seen how the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the trend of remote working. There is no question about that. So what once scared all of us and left people wandering about our ability to adapt, ended up with an aftertaste of new possibilities for the job market. Nowadays, more people prefer to work in flexible work environments because of the positive experience they had during the pandemic.
But whether we talk strictly about moving our working space from an office desk to our couch, or the concept of flexible arrangements, the future of work is colorful and for sure embroidered with a better work-life balance.
The concept of remote work is not new in the job market, but it has been gaining momentum in recent years.
Pre-pandemic statistics showed us that only around 5% of workers were working remotely before the early days of Covid. So 2020 saw a huge increase in such working scenarios, and future jobs even though not everyone has a job that can be done remotely. Just think about April and May that year, when everyone wanted to keep the virus under control - more than 60% of people worked from home.
That’s a huge increase that propelled the idea of remote working unbelievably fast to mass adoption. Because of that, we stabilized the job market and the work environment to around 25% being done fully remotely.
But we think it will continue to grow since it’s more convenient for people. Workers as well as employees could gain a lot more from considering such alternatives. For example, an employee that would one spend 2 hours daily just commuting to work, could use that time more productively at home.
I think it’s common sense that for many people having those 2 hours could make the difference in a lot of aspects. For some, the extra time can translate into a less stressful day, while for others more free time means an opportunity to spend it with family and friends. Some would work on side projects and hobbies, and everyone would spend less money on transportation and all the other costs associated with commuting.
Not to mention that all of it can cause a great return for the employers as well for future jobs. Yes, companies can save money on office rent and utilities. But guys - the real benefit is the return in productivity from more satisfied employees. And not only will a satisfied and relaxed worker be more productive but also they reportedly work more. I know it sounds weird but go back to the 2 hours of commuting per day. Many people actually use a part of those spared hours to put in some extra time in their activity.
Even more so, we have seen how working remotely can free up city roads and therefore save up huge amounts of greenhouse gases from being released into the atmosphere. We surely pictured remote working like it’s all sunshine and rainbows. But is it though?
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As beneficial as remote teams can be, they are not without flaws.
The lack of human connection can prove to be a significant disadvantage for people who work in remote environments. It is easier to connect with your fellow employees when working at the office. And for many people, lacking interaction leaves them in a difficult situation to really get on the same page with someone. And that’s just task-wise.
Mental-health-wise people who work fully remotely are in for a weird time as well. We get it, people who have kids and families at home will surely enjoy the extra quality time available. But now imagine a young adult who needs to spend every day indoors and alone. As time passes, the effects of the lack of socializing will be felt, and many people report feeling unmotivated, unsatisfied, and depressed with their job afterward.
For employers, on the other hand, it can get pretty hard to manage a remote team. It is hard to keep up with the amount of work that the employees are doing in an office, in remote work is almost impossible.
Flexible Work Arrangements and hybrid work scenarios seem like the proper way to move forward.
Now hybrid working scenarios seem like they get everything under control. That’s an increasingly preferred option today for many companies in finance, online business, and technology. For one you get to enjoy the benefits of working remotely, while you also get to spend a few days working alongside peers in an office. Like all good things in life, we do believe that working in a hybrid scenario provides the required amount of balance to make it sustainable in the long run. But there’s more!
Part-time jobs and job sharing are two of the most famous flexible work arrangements out there. Many employees prefer to work part-time because it will give them more free time to try other hobbies or activities. And job sharing is also a fascinating part. This concept refers to employees that share the same position in a company. It works great with the part-time notion, as two people can work part-time in the same position but on different days or time schedules.
Then there are other flexible work arrangements, like creating 4-day work weeks or unconventionally dividing the working hours. That’s particularly great at helping people deal with other personal responsibilities, concentrate their work more productively in a narrower frame, and have an overall better job experience.
So, the jobs of the future are likely to be shaped by remote teams, flexible work arrangements, and the use of technology but also face-to-face interaction. These trends will bring new opportunities, but also new challenges that organizations will need to navigate. As such, organizations need to stay adaptable and open to change and to find ways to effectively manage remote teams and implement flexible work arrangements. By staying ahead of these trends, organizations can better prepare for the future and position themselves for success.
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