What we have learned from the year of remote work and what lies ahead

Many businesses are preparing for the post-pandemic era by adopting a virtual hybrid model that includes remote and in-office hours. Because of the pandemic's positive impact on production, this choice seems logical.

Despite the increased output, many workers are complaining of stress and exhaustion. Pandemic-style productivity improvements may become unsustainable in the future unless executives address the origins of employee concerns. Anxiety has been linked to a decline in job satisfaction, strained relationships with coworkers, and subpar output in the workplace. In this essay, I'll go through some of the major considerations related to working remotely. 

Workplace changes as digital workplace takeover traditional workstyle 

​A new era of business, one that belonged to the entrepreneur, was created with the creation of the first website in 1999 and the rise of garage businesses. Startups were originally characterized by underprivileged college students and those who had left the corporate sector in quest of more independence, success, and personal fulfillment.

Until they found investors prepared to support them, entrepreneurs toiled away from box rooms, sheds, and garages on shoestring budgets and a lot of determination. Many people, even back then, chose to start firms that would enable them and their employees the freedom to keep doing what they were doing at the outset: working from wherever they happened to be.

The rise of "work from home" 

We were fortunate and prepared for the new world of remote work (WFH). At that point, we were far into our company's foray into the Digital Workplace and Microsoft Teams and were heavy users of both. We started having a morning all-hands stand-up meeting right away, and we've been doing it almost every day since then. That conversation has been crucial in maintaining team cohesion and a positive work environment.

It was quite easy to transition all of our consumer interactions to the digital realm because of the nature of our firm. We made a switch to AgilityPortal, a new digital workplace that we believed had better positioned its intranet solution to be in line with the new WFH norm through extensive connectivity with remote teams. 

1. Increased Agility - With a remote workforce, companies can be more nimble and responsive to change. They can quickly adapt to market conditions and customer needs without having to worry about the logistical challenges of relocating employees.
2. Cost Savings - Working from home can save companies money on office space, utilities, and other overhead costs. Additionally, it can allow employees to avoid costly commuting expenses.
3. Improved Morale - Employees who have the ability to work from home tend to be happier and more productive. They often enjoy greater work/life balance and report feeling less stressed than their counterparts who have to commute to an office every day.
4. Increased Flexibility - Remote work arrangements offer employees greater flexibility in terms of when and where they work. This can lead to improved work/life balance and increased productivity.
5. Environmental sustainability - Companies that allow employees to work from home can reduce their carbon footprints by reducing the number of commuters on the road. This is good for the environment and can also help to improve a company's reputation.

Remote teams are the future of work 

The advent of tablet computers and smartphones is a direct result of the proliferation of laptops made possible by technological progress. Devices that once required full rooms are now compact enough to fit in a bag or pocket. Using Wi-Fi, these gadgets can link up with one another from any location with an active internet connection.

Then cloud computing came along, serving as a central repository for all our digital assets, making it easy to save, retrieve, and distribute data and applications from anywhere.

Tools for team collaboration and project management, such as AgilityPortal, have provided managers and business owners with simple solutions to run teams efficiently from anywhere in the world. Video conferencing has made it possible for employees to operate remotely without having to relocate their offices. 

Work no longer depends on locations 

The ability to work from anywhere and pursue a variety of career paths is a major perk of the telecommuting lifestyle. This can be especially useful for people looking for work in rural areas and smaller towns, where there may be fewer jobs available.

Before the epidemic, people who worked completely remotely could do so without being tied down to any one place. A complete nomad existence may be on hold for the time being, but the gradual thawing of boundaries is a significant benefit in and of itself.

Having work that can be done remotely from anywhere is helpful for people who must frequently move, such as military spouses, because it means they don't have to start at the bottom of a new company every time they relocate.

For professions (such as technology) that traditionally necessitated residing in a place with a high cost of living, remote work is a fantastic alternative to relocating to a more expensive region. With the advent of remote jobs, it is no longer necessary to be close to a sizable city to enjoy a fulfilling professional life. 

Competition between remote-first and remote-friendly businesses 

Statistics compiled by software titan GetApp show that remote employees have surged by 400% since 2010, with 78% of respondents saying they occasionally or always work from home. Zapier and GitLab are two examples of firms that were built from the ground up with remote workers in mind.

Although all businesses will need to increase their use of remote workers after the pandemic, a remote-first organization is different from a remote-friendly one.

The most successful remote-first companies foster a flexible work environment that prioritizes the health and happiness of its employees. All members of a team can operate remotely and still meet the high expectations of clients, superiors, and peers. The entire company, from inception to launch to success, is based on its remote workers. 

So it safe to say that in recent years, there has been a growing trend of businesses adopting remote-first or remote-friendly policies. This shift has been driven in part by the increasing popularity of flexible work arrangements and the rise of the gig economy. However, it has also been fueled by competition. 

Businesses that embrace remote work are able to attract top talent from around the world, rather than being limited to applicants who live within commuting distance. 

This gives them a significant advantage when it comes to hiring the best and brightest employees. In addition, businesses that allow employees to work remotely are often able to operate with smaller physical footprints, which can save on real estate costs. 

As more businesses adopt remote-friendly policies, the competitive landscape will continue to change, putting pressure on those who stubbornly cling to traditional workplace models.

Remote work is the future 

Work has typically been done from afar, making the cubicle workplace something of an anomaly. The rise in the popularity of working from home is not a passing trend. Because of how long it has persisted, we can assume that it is inevitable in some sense. This trend has picked up speed since the epidemic began, and most future careers will involve at least some time spent working from home.

Permitting workers to work remotely at least occasionally and accommodating their schedules is becoming increasingly important in order to retain employees. The engagement levels of remote workers are far higher than those of their office-bound counterparts. People who spend three or four days a week working remotely are significantly more engaged than those who spend all their time in the office. 

1. Remote work offers greater flexibility and freedom. - One of the biggest advantages of remote work is that it offers employees greater freedom and flexibility when it comes to their work schedule. This can be a huge benefit for frontline workers who often have to juggle shift work with other obligations. With remote work, they can create a schedule that works better for them, which can lead to increased productivity and satisfaction.
2. Remote work can help reduce stress levels. - Another advantage of remote work is that it can help reduce stress levels. Employees who are able to work from home or another location outside of the office often report feeling less stressed than those who have to commute to an office every day. This can lead to improved mental health and well-being, as well as increased productivity.
3. Remote work can save organizations money. - Not only is remote work good for employees, but it can also be beneficial for organizations financially. Companies that allow their employees to work remotely often save money on overhead costs, such as rent and utilities. Additionally, they may also see a decrease in employee absenteeism and turnover rates.
4. Remote work is good for the environment. - Another perk of remote work is that it's actually good for the environment! Since employees are not commuting to an office every day, there's a decrease in carbon emissions from cars and buses. This can lead to a smaller carbon footprint for the organization as a whole and help promote sustainability initiatives.
5. Remote work promotes innovation. - Finally, remote work has been shown to promote innovation within organizations. This is because employees who are given the opportunity to work remotely often feel more empowered and motivated to come up with new ideas and solutions. Additionally, they're also more likely to take risks, which can lead to breakthroughs that wouldn't have happened otherwise.

Conclusion 

As a result of remote work and digital-first strategies, businesses are able to increase their employee retention rates by enabling teams to work remotely. They no longer have to stress over the time, money, and effort lost when key players leave the company.

The pros of working remotely outweigh the cons, so it's best to get ready for a future in which working from home plays a significant role.