Preparing Your Business for The Future of Remote Work

When the pandemic struck in 2020, millions of people were forced to change their lives as they knew it, which included starting to work remotely. Now, several years beyond the beginning of the pandemic, some people still work from home on a daily basis. Industries like information technology, professional and business services, educational services, and wholesale trade especially still rely heavily on remote work opportunities. In fact, in 2023, approximately 40% of employees in the United States worked remotely at least once per week. 

Although these numbers are now shrinking as we move further into a post-pandemic world, there are still remote work opportunities in nearly every corner of the country at different companies. Especially in the northeast and in California, work from home roles still play an integral role in the economic state of that area. Even outside of the United States, other countries have found value in offering remote work, with over 30% of employees operating on a fully remote or hybrid schedule.

Although working from home has settled since the pandemic, the benefits that it presents for both employees and employers cannot be denied. There are a multitude of ways that both sides of businesses can grow using this model.

Having a team that works completely or partially remote benefits those employees in a multitude of ways. First, it completely eliminates the need for a commute, which can be time consuming and a hassle. Along with this, employees then save money on gas and other necessities such as food. They also will waste less time getting ready or lose sleep to a more rigid schedule. Overall, the flexibility of such a schedule cannot be beat. Many employees love this, as they can take back more of their day and can dedicate that extra time to the other important aspects of their lives. Whether this means spending more time on hobbies, with family, with friends, or participating in other extracurricular activities, working from home creates a schedule that better accommodates these needs. Working remotely can also allow for a more enjoyable and stress free workday with fewer meetings and more time to complete important work.

Not only do employees benefit from a remote work model, but their employers do as well. This may incentivize employers to offer this type of schedule. First, offering remote work reduces absenteeism in the workplace. When there is an expectation of always commuting to the office, many workers are more likely to call out sick or stay home for minor reasons. However, when given the opportunity to work from home, studies have found 56% fewer employee absences, and 50% fewer employee sick days taken. Schedules that incorporate remote work also boost productivity of workers, therefore increasing the success of the business. In fact, research has shown that since the normalization of remote work, businesses have seen nearly a 70% increase in productivity. Having a hybrid or fully remote schedule also can lower turnover, as employees are more satisfied with their work week. Reducing employee churn by 50%, remote work could be the key to retention. Finally, employers benefit from remote work because it saves money for the company. Hiring employees under the basis of a remote or hybrid schedule can reduce the cost per employee by anywhere between $20k to $37k annually.

Clearly, although we are no longer in an immediate pandemic-ridden state, the benefits of remote work in some capacity are undeniable. In fact, in 2023, nearly 100% of people say that they want to work remotely at least some or all of the time. This begs the question, what steps must be taken to make this a reality?

There are three main necessary components to keeping teams out of the office and able to work remotely. First, connectivity platforms must be up to date and reliable. The most common, such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams are what businesses currently rely on to get work done and hold meetings from home. Not only having these platforms, but also ensuring that they work properly help to keep employees connected, communicative, and productive no matter where they work from. Cybersecurity and IT tools but also be available. 

When a large portion of employees relies on technology to have a successful workday, protecting company equipment from digital threats is a must. The company IT team must be knowledgeable and prepared to fend off any intentional or unintentional hiccups. Finally, the most modern technology must be used to optimize the work experience for both employees and employers at all levels. Artificial intelligence is a resource that many modern companies are using to create schedules and accommodate employee needs. All of these strategies help to increase employee retention and to improve the overall state of the modern workplace.

Technology is not going anywhere, and the reliance on technology that we developed during the pandemic is also here to stay. Maintaining remote teams is a great way to adhere to the times and to prepare one’s business for the demands of the future.