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IS WORK FROM ANYWHERE HERE TO STAY?
IS WORK FROM ANYWHERE HERE TO STAY?

June 18, 2021

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Before COVID hit the shore, the concept of working from home was cherished only by a few companies. However, that changed quickly when remote work became the only way for business to stay afloat. Even companies that couldn’t imagine functioning without a brick-and-mortar setup had no choice but to embrace the shift. 

 

It’s been more than a year ever since. Most companies have overcome the initial challenges linked with managing a remote workforce. Though still reeling from the influences of an injured global economy, the business world has found a rhythm of sorts. We understand that the effect we’re speaking of is not universal. However, it’s significant enough to warrant discussion. On that note, here’s another development that may need your attention. 

 

Even after the pandemic goes away, many businesses are contemplating keeping things as they are. Well, they’ve got good reasons. Let’s talk about them. 

 

Benefits of work-from-home/work-from-anywhere:

 
 

  • Increased flexibility & work-life balance for employees

As long as companies are willing to forego the age-old 9-to-5 mindset, remote work allows employees to work whenever they want. Though flexible work timings also come with expected performance standards, they’re still conducive to increased work-life balance. Furthermore, that’s not where the upside to remote work ends. For travel enthusiasts, remote work also offers the freedom to work from anywhere in the world. In either case, the outcome is a happier and more fulfilled workforce. 

 
 

  • High level of productivity

It isn’t a stretch to posit that a happier workforce is more productive than an unhappier one. After all, who do you think will deliver a greater output? A group of people that equate work with drudgery? Or an energy-filled team that has no woes with work-life balance? The answer here is straightforward. Moreover, remote work eliminates the need for commute and reduces distractions inherent to a brick-and-mortar office space. Though we’ll talk more about these nuances later in the blog, they contribute to greater productivity. 

 
 

  • Cost reduction for offices

Until recently, office spaces were thought of as an unavoidable business expense. However, this perception changed soon after COVID surfaced across the globe. Ever since then, companies have begun to discover that they can achieve high levels of productivity without investing outrageous amounts of money in fancy office spaces. Thanks to a combination of high-speed internet, video conferencing apps, and other collaboration tools, geographical distance between employees no longer hinders progress at work. Team members can now sit miles apart from each other and still maintain the same output that they would have delivered while working under a shared roof. 

 
 

  • Time saved on commute

Though some people enjoy their commute to work, most employees think of it as an annoyance. Until now, the latter has had no choice but to gulp down their discontentment and embrace commuting as part of their job. But, things are different now. With the distance between office and home dissolved, commuting to work has become unnecessary. Consequently, employees now have more time on their hands. These newfound extra hours increase work-life balance and in turn, make work more enjoyable. 

 
 

  • Fewer distractions

Everyday noise, idle chatter, unnecessary visits by co-workers, micro-management by superiors; office buildings can have many distractions. But, a home office can be vastly different. It can be designed per individual preferences, thereby giving you the freedom to create a highly focused environment. Meaningly, the distractions that you face in your office building can be completely absent in your home office. The same may not be true for people with kids in the house but the point still stands. With the right environment design, home offices can reduce distractions to the minimum. 

 

Is WFA suitable for all?

 

As we’ve talked about above, remote work comes with a long list of benefits. However, it is not for everyone. For starters, some industries don’t even have the option of functioning remotely. The hospitality, retail, and manufacturing sectors are the obvious examples here. But, that’s not all. 

 

Even if a company can work remotely doesn’t mean it should. The same is especially true when its teams are composed of individuals who experience greater creativity and efficiency in a shared, physical workspace. No doubt that virtual communication tools are great. But, using them is simply not the same as brainstorming ideas together in a room. 

 

In the wake of all these concerns, the future will likely be governed by hybrid models of remote work. At the individual level, those who prefer working from home can choose to do so and others can keep showing up to a physical office for work. 

 

Even in industries where functioning remotely isn’t an option, some departments can easily be asked to work from home. That’s because some tasks are better suited to remote work whereas others aren’t. For example, tech departments can function remotely with minimal hiccups but individuals employed at automobile manufacturing plants cannot. 

 

Conclusion

 

Like everything under the sun, remote work has its pros and cons. However, the pros somewhat outweigh the cons in most cases. Thus, it’s obvious that remote work is here to stay. The only thing that’s left to see is to what capacity will it stay. We’ll just have to wait and watch. 

 

This article was originally published on PERSOLKELLY India blog here 


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