The concept of remote work was first implemented in 1973, when the term “remote work” was coined. Since that time, people began to work remotely around the world through various platforms.
However, a sharp increase in remote work began with the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistics show that before the pandemic, only 5% of full-time employees worked directly from home. Currently, this figure is already 30%, and it depends on the specifics of various industries and professions.
Another reason why teleworking has become so popular is the wide availability of technology solutions and innovations that empower workers. In addition to increased productivity and social distancing, remote work has other important aspects.
One of the main reasons why it is important for businesses and employees is that it creates an opportunity for professionals with disabilities to receive offers About work. In addition, the focus of remote work is on results, not time, which is key to business growth.
The Benefits of Remote Working
The growth of remote work around the world is driven by the many benefits it offers, including:
1. Flexibility in work schedule and location. Remote work provides more flexibility, allowing people to work from anywhere. This gives more freedom to the business and employees by allowing everyone to work outside of normal business hours. In addition, telecommuting makes it easier to recruit from a wider pool of candidates.
2. Increased productivity and responsiveness for remote workers. Statistics show that employees are more productive and stable when they work remotely compared to working in the office. This is due to the elimination of lengthy face-to-face meetings and the exhausting daily commute.
3. Reduction of overhead costs for business. Businesses using remote work can rent smaller spaces to save money. They can work completely remotely by moving to the cloud, which also contributes to cost savings. In fact, by working remotely, businesses and employees can save on office supplies, rent, and utilities.
4. Positive impact on the environment and reduction of carbon emissions. Teleworking also has a positive impact on the environment, as it helps to minimize carbon emissions from large energy devices used by businesses and from vehicles.
Disadvantages of remote work
But remote work has not only advantages, there are also undoubted problems:
1. Potential difficulties in communication and cooperation between remote teams. When employees are far apart, effective collaboration and communication becomes difficult. This eventually leads to having to schedule too many meetings between managers and team members, and this can lead to frustration among employees.
2. Problems with work-life balance and potential burnout. In some cases, work-life balance is an advantage to working remotely. There is a possibility that work processes will intersect with home life and other personal areas. While it may seem simple at first, if not handled carefully, they can become a burden, requiring extra hours to complete scheduled tasks.
3. The likelihood of isolation and lack of connection with the corporate culture. Remote workers have a higher risk of feeling isolated and alone. This is due to a decrease in the level of interaction with the outside world.
Tools for successful remote work
Remote work is very different from working in the office, where “colleagues” are just a few steps away from you in the same building. When working remotely, teams are distributed across different time zones, regions, and cities. In doing so, it is necessary to ensure that the right tools and methods are used to maintain productivity and efficiency. Interestingly, there are many tools specifically designed to ensure the success and improve business outcomes of remote workers. These tools include project management platforms, as well as video conferencing and communication applications.
With the right tools and methodologies in place, it's easier to adopt best practices for communication and collaboration between remote teams. These are cloud solutions, team messaging, video conferencing, data storage, employee engagement and productivity. All of these practices also help create a positive company culture for remote workers. However, businesses still need to develop their own remote work policy for employees.
The Future of Remote Work
No one knows for sure what the coming years will bring, but the steps being taken by many organizations now give a glimpse of what to expect in the future. In the future, more and more people will switch to remote work, but not everyone will do this, because there are many areas in which it is impossible to perform tasks virtually. For example, those that involve personal contact or the operation of special equipment.
Remote work is currently popular due to its benefits, including flexibility in working hours and location, increased productivity and responsiveness for remote workers, reduced overhead costs for businesses , positive impact on the environment and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. However, there are also several challenges associated with remote work: problems with work-life balance and potential burnout, difficulties in communication and communication between remote teams, and potential isolation and lack of connection to the corporate culture.
