If we are to properly analyze the progress of work in general, then that’ll go as back as the 18th century when the Industrial Revolution took place. This gave the US factory workers, and eventually, work evolved to put employees in a cramped cubicle space and that became the ‘norm work’ for most of the 20th century. With the technological revolution came endless options and possibilities, bringing with it Wi-Fi that enabled work communication through Zoom calls and Google Meet correspondence.
Further advancements in technology in the Digital Era, came improvements that have increasingly connected us to one another and this has effectively changed the way we work as well. The popularity of remote work has increased tenfold in recent years and yet, working from home is far from a new concept.
As early as the 2000s
Remote work, also known as telecommuting, has existed since the early 2000s. The U.S Federal government has been requiring employees to work from home since precisely 2001 – this was a means to cut down on traffic, lower pollution, and make certain that federal employees are available in the event of crises or emergencies. Remote work would ensure less time spent on travel, which also translated to fewer vehicles on the road, which meant overall less pollution, and this would garner a lot of support from the green movement. By 2000, the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act legitimized remote workers and made it mandatory for companies to have telecommuting policies under certain circumstances.
In just a handful of years, by 2017, a study found that 43% of employees work remotely with some frequency.
Countries worldwide seem to be tipping in favor of working from home, especially in the recent years after the COVID pandemic; during which most companies had to resort to facilitating remote working environments and conditions. Many reports and studies also confirm and show the Coronavirus pandemic has had a lasting impact on how work is conducted. It is now a viable alternative to the physical workplace.
- At least 54% of people prefer remote work as a permanent option and actively seek roles that allow it.
- Nearly 49% of employers and companies are trying to improve the remote work experience for their employees, as they view this as a long-term necessity.
Advances in computers ensure that almost everyone has the ability to use portable devices, and they have increasingly done so, with the eventual evolution of tablets and smartphones. Thanks to Wi-Fi, these devices can connect anywhere else in the world that also has internet access, allowing people to work from anywhere, at any time.
Rise of Team Collaborative Tools
Team collaboration tools like Slack, Skype, and Discord, along with many other project management tools like Asana and Trello have given business owners and employers easy access which allows them to communicate and manage their teams more efficiently, regardless of where they are. Video conferencing and online meetings are an added step that provides everyone involved with a much smoother process while staying connected online – hence all this technology allows people to now work from anywhere. As they say, the world is your oyster!
The growing popularity of remote work is not temporary and with the way the world is adjusting and favoring remote work, there’s an inevitability to it. This has only accelerated with the pandemic in 2020, and 2022 studies show that most career paths will now contain some form of remote work in the future.
Remote Work Creates Better Results – Stats don’t lie
Worker retention, now more than ever, hinges on allowing flexible hours and the ability to work remotely — at least, some of the time, if not all. Remote workers are far more engaged than those that show up in an office, at a regulated time, five days a week. In fact, those who spend 60% to 80% of their hours working remotely over the course of just three or four days in a week, are far more engaged than those who spend all their time on-site.
Statistics also show that most people that have switched to remote work rarely even consider returning to a 9-to-5-job working schedule. 90% of remote workers intend to continue to work remotely for the remainder of their careers and they’re more than happy to recommend such a lifestyle to others, as it comes with many benefits and flexibility. Needless to say, these statistics give us an insight into how the workforce has adapted to remote work.
- 73% have confessed that they wanted flexible remote work to stay long-term (as indicated by Microsoft’s Work Trend Index survey).
- 83% of employers say the shift to remote work has indeed been successful for their business.
If the employers and the employees are on the same page, the math is even harder to ignore!
The Exceptions
Despite the stats, there are some countries and companies that are still on the fence about this and have actively resisted this work trend for many reasons. A common concern for most business owners is the fear of a lack of productivity in their employees, while others haven’t invested in teleconferencing and tech to support such remote working conditions, so it’s harder for them to adapt. Still, many other businesses have dipped their toes into the remote workforce by creating a work-from-home policy for just a couple of days in a week, for a few employees.
And yet, we see working groups thrive in companies that encourage a more trusting culture, with an inclusive work environment, and purposeful, regular communication – all of which are possible in a remote working environment. While the desire and expectation of working remotely increase significantly every year among the workforce, companies are only slowly adopting more remote-friendly policies, making it harder for changes and adjustments along the way.
On the other hand, adopting a remote working policy can save companies money by removing the need for expensive office spaces, allowing workers the freedom to create their own schedules and work from wherever they please.
It genuinely is a win-win situation!
The Future
The transition to managing and coordinating a remote workforce may be challenging and daunting, but with the right kind of tech and employee-employer coordination, the process is worthwhile in a long-term scenario.
In the long run, fighting this kind of change may actually do more harm than good! Many employees now expect remote work opportunities and flexiblitiy in working hours, and with the right training and practice, businesses can stand to see profits and an increase in employee productivity.
As Alex Turnbull, Founder, and CEO of Groove (a customer support app for startups and small businesses), puts it:
“Successfully working from home is a skill, just like programming, designing, or writing.”
On a final note, we’d like to share 2022 study results, by Buffer, which proudly proclaims itself as ‘The Tech Company with No Office’ shared 2022 studies that indicated 99% of current remote workers would prefer to work remotely, for the rest of their careers. That is nine points higher than the figure from the same survey they conducted in the year 2021.
