There has always been a discussion on how to make workplaces more efficient, more productive, more competent. Over the last few years, one of the most prominent ideas that are being consistently brought up in these discussions is the potential for remote employees. It is a concept that is still foreign to the majority, and yet research on the potential for productivity, surveys conducted on employees both in office and working remotely, and evidence noted from the companies already embracing remote work, all speak volumes for the potential of such an idea. There is research that shows that giving employees the freedom of location benefits all parties in multiple ways – from productivity, to employee satisfaction, the possibilities are seemingly endless. An increase in individuals that are looking for work that allows them geographic freedom means that companies have begun to advertise for positions that cater to these individuals. While there is a concern for the shifts that would inevitably come with remote employees – such as lack of face-to-face time, and apprehensions about the accountability for clocking time – for every problem, there is a solution. The technology driving future workplace experiences is dependent on it (and so are future employers and employees).
The truth is that as the world surges into an era of digitization and tech-based processing, so does the way in which individuals choose to work. In allowing employees the chance to work from wherever they choose, employers are reaping the benefits of more productive, happier staff – and it is a well-known fact that happier staff results in better quality of work (and the probability of more work getting done, as well). There could be a perfect individual for a position, and yet if they are thrust into a work environment in which they do not want to be in, their productivity plunges into a downward spiral. A company might hire the perfect person, only to realize that they do not function in an office environment – and vice versa…a company might overlook the perfect candidate just because that individual prefers to be able to work in an environment of their choosing. It is a contradiction that, in all honesty, does not make a whole lot of sense. The movement towards a business that operates from under more than one roof is soaring, with no end in sight. Allowing mobility for employees gives companies the edge of exceeding in both the digital market and the workplace.
The perception that remote work is primarily sought out by students, single parents that want to be at home with their children, and caregivers is not only narrow-minded, but profoundly incorrect. There are countless reasons for individuals to pursue remote work. People are realizing that they have the option to pack their bags, and pursue a career as a digital nomad, allowing them to work from wherever they want to be in the world. Parents are realizing that working from home allows them to strike a more stable balance between work and home life. Some individuals love what they do, and so freelancing is their preference – taking on multiple jobs in the one field and having the luxury of moving around as they do so. Travel and quality of overall life appear to be the two cornerstones in reasoning to join the remote workforce. Furthermore, it is a general consensus among people, that they would prefer to choose where and when they work. Of course, there will always be individuals and employers that prefer to work on location, and that is great, too. Diversity in the preferences of individuals in the workplace ensures that jobs will continue to be varying, which is the whole point – allowing individuals to have the option of either on location or remote work will allow employees the ability to choose, which in turn will make them happier to be at work (wherever that may be).
Lack of accountability seems to be the most common concern around individuals pursuing remote careers. While this is a perfectly understandable point to make, it is important to look at the bigger picture, and ultimately to realize that remote careers are becoming more popular, and so companies must adapt. An employee should be a trusted individual, but there is still the need for some employers to ensure that their staff is getting enough work done for their income. Similarly, employees like to know exactly where and what they spend their time working on, to increase their work and maximize the potential for productivity. The world is increasingly moving towards a tech-driven planet, and that includes the workplace. Employers and staff alike can enlist in varying tools to assist them in the tracking of their time spent at (and on) work, such as virtual platforms for co-workers to engage with one another, as well as a digital system known as a time tracker (a product that enables convenient and efficient management). As companies continue to digitize their foundations, they will inevitably come to realize that freedom of location is going to be a consequence of this digitization. There is evidence that working from home improves employee retention, and the diversification and resulting adaptation will make companies more successful, more enjoyable places to spend one’s professional life.
Increasing digitization in the modern workplace is solidifying the value of working remotely. While previously the concept of working away from the office was one that raised cautious optimism at best, it is now igniting an era of professional freedom and employee satisfaction. Giving people the freedom to choose when and where they spend their time working produces staff that is thriving at work and in their personal lives. A happier, more rounded out individual ensures better quality and quantity of content. Employees that are given the choice to work from either on location or a different place of their own choosing are fast becoming employees that are happier, more passionate (and therefore more productive) about their work, and more content in their professional lives – resulting in individuals that are happier in their home lives, too.
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