It is safe to say that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world we live in. Since lockdowns, social distancing, and numerous other health procedures, workers started to stay away from other humans and log online.
Though social life had to stop during the beginning of the pandemic, business had to continue. Organizations started calling for workers to conduct their affairs online. Developed telecommunications made it much easier for the show to go on. However, this was not completely unexpected.
The decade leading up to the pandemic saw an increase in replacing physical actions with the Internet. One such example is shopping, which witnessed the riseThe decade leading up to the pandemic saw an increase in replacing physical actions with the Internet. One such example is shopping, which witnessed the rise of numerous online stores, especially in the fashion world. According to the Pew Research Center in 2016, 43 percent of Americans were regular online shoppers (making purchases either weekly or a few times per month).The decade leading up to the pandemic saw an increase in replacing physical actions with the Internet. One such example is shopping, which witnessed the rise
of numerous online stores, especially in the fashion world. According to the Pew Research Center in 2016, 43 percent of Americans were regular online shoppers (making purchases either weekly or a few times per month).
However, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the business world by supercharging what was already progressing: the rise of real-world connections online.
The Development of Working from Home
Telecommunications such as Skype were increasingly popular in the 2010s. Though they did not provide the same features as the more developed platforms used commonly today, including Zoom and Microsoft Teams, they still existed. Nevertheless, senior leaders were wary of allowing employees to conduct their work online from home.
The general myth was that employees would not be motivated to get work done. Without being in the presence of coworkers and higher-ups, employees would have a reason to procrastinate or slip away to do a non-work-related task.
However, April and May of 2020 showed that productivity increased by nearly 50 percent. More workers began to enjoy working from home, contributing to the surge in the use of email and phone calls. Plus, they reduced the risk of exposure to an unknown virus.
In today’s business world, remote workers are 13 percent more productive than office workers, according to a Stanford study. However, there are still some other challenges that come with the WFH lifestyle.
The Benefits of Remote Work
Along with increased productivity, remote work allows employees more time with family. There is no commute, so workers have a much smaller distance between family and friends.
Additionally, younger generations without kids prefer the lifestyle to travel. Not being tied down to a physical location means that young workers can take their computers or devices with them anywhere in the world.
As for organization leaders, with more employees working from home, there is less office space required, which can save money on real estate. Plus, hiring managers are no longer limited to potential employees who may not be available to reside in the area. They have a larger candidate pool.
The Challenges that Remote Work Imposes
While there are several benefits to the working-from-home business model, there are still some challenges.
Communication becomes a major obstacle, especially if coworkers do not live within the same time zone. As a result, they must adjust their schedules, which may not fit into normal working hours.
Another off-putting element of this method is the promotion of isolation. Without being in person, employees can feel further disconnected from their coworkers, separated by a screen. A Buffer survey states that 19 percent of remote workers feel lonely.
Still, many positives come with this lifestyle, as employees are often able to work on their own schedule.
Conclusion: What Remote Work Means for the Future of Business
There is no denying that remote work is here to stay. The pandemic solidified the effectiveness of working from home and the benefits for many. However, technology is an ever-evolving enigma. Business leaders can expect changes to come to this lifestyle in the future—whether influenced by Artificial Intelligence or something else.
What we know now is that more and more workers are expecting remote jobs. As such, some businesses are providing the technology required to carry out these positions for the betterment of employee performance.