June 12th, 2020
Remote work from home is an increasingly popular option for employees.
It looks increasingly so.
According to a recent study by Tech Republic, only about 25% of employees from 63% of organizations in the US had the freedom to complete some tasks remotely before the coronavirus arrived. The landscape has changed significantly since then.
During the first five months of 2020 (the coronavirus peak season), as many as three-quarters of organizations asked at least 75% of their workforce to work remotely from home. That translates to roughly 56% of American workers being asked to work from home.
More interestingly, 33% of organizations say they were not sufficiently prepared for such a rapid shift from in-office to remote work. However, most of these companies were able to quickly adapt to the new realities, with most employers now hoping to keep some positions permanently remote.
It’s a situation that has left many people wondering how the work environment will look once the coronavirus is gone. Will everyone go back to the physical office, or could we see remote work become the new normal?
Nope, Remote Work from Home is Here to Stay
As several experts now put it, telework passed the audition. The next step is the mass rollout of work-from-home programs.
And it’s already happening!
We’ve recently seen big enterprises, including Facebook and Twitter, announce plans to go remote for the long-term. Facebook, through Mark Zuckerberg, says the company is “aggressively opening up remote hiring” in July. Twitter, meanwhile, has announced that the company’s employees can work from home “forever.”
Many other organizations, both governmental and nongovernmental, will likely follow suit soon for three reasons.
- The inherent benefits of telecommuting
Remote work from home is advantageous in many ways for both the employee and the employer. Employees benefit from reduced commute (saving time and money), increased flexibility, and the opportunity to spend more time with loved ones. Employers, meanwhile, profit from improved employee retention, reduced costs (office space, utilities, etc.), longer working hours, and increased employee productivity. In some cases, organizations have reported a 47% increase in worker productivity.
- Remote work infrastructure is maturing
From slow internet speeds to security issues and the lack of telecommuting software/platforms, the foundation for remote working badly lacked initially. It made working from home extremely challenging. However, there have been massive improvements in all these areas. 4G and 5G networks make speed a problem of the past, security is much better, and necessary software products (Zoom, e-conferencing solutions, etc.) are coming to the market fast.
- Government support and incentives
Finally, after learning from the coronavirus experience, many governments are adopting measures and policies that support or incentivize remote working.
Finland, for instance, is accelerating its already exemplary work-from-home program by providing incentives for organizations that reduce hours spent at the office. There are similar efforts in New Zealand too. Then, you have several other countries, including the US, now adopting policies that favor remote work. These programs will go a long way in popularizing remote work from home.
To Succeed with Tele-Work, Get the Basics Right
You can roll out a remote work program too. Indeed, your employees would really appreciate it, and your organization would benefit massively from the positive energy.
However, it starts with getting the basics right. You must bring the right people on board and create an environment conducive for remote work.
From providing the necessary equipment (laptops, smartphones, etc.) and other tools such as communication, collaboration, and security software, the employees should have everything they need to deliver on their tasks.
PrideStaff Can Help You Find the Best Employees, Even for Remote Work from Home!
PrideStaff is the preferred employment agency in Fort Lauderdale. We specialize in employment agency services, call center staffing, and administrative and clerical staffing, among others. We can help you get over the first hurdle in rolling out a remote work from home program – finding the right talent. Call us today to schedule a no-cost consultation!