Remote work may have experienced some slowdown since its peak in 2020, but it will likely expand even more in future.
Even though some executives desire their teams back in the office, most employees prefer flexible working options instead. Here are a few reasons why:
1. Millennials
Young workers belonging to Gen Z and millennial generations find remote work an easy transition. Growing up connected to the internet, this generation values being able to stay in contact with coworkers through instant messaging or other forms of social tools whenever it is needed.
Gen Zers are adept at managing both professional and personal lives simultaneously, which will be particularly valuable as they transition back to office-based work when the pandemic ends; otherwise this would likely prove challenging without an established division between work life and personal life.
As some of the youngest and nascent employees return from being affected by the pandemic, they may discover that long-term remote work may not be in their best interests – this is because these workers are still at an early stage of their careers, needing strong connections with colleagues, management and professional networks in order to progress successfully in their careers.
2. Generation Z
Gen Z employees (born between 1996 and the early-mid 2000s) are fast becoming the majority of employees, meaning they will have an enormous effect on remote work in the coming years. Since they’ve grown up online, this generation prefers working virtually rather than face-to-face on projects.
According to a recent NSHSS study, employees prioritize fair treatment and quality of life over compensation in their jobs, and prefer those that offer clear pathways towards advancement.
Therefore, it’s imperative that Generation Z receive adequate training and mentorship opportunities in a remote work environment. Without in-person guidance, young workers might struggle with separating home life from work life, as well as lacking an established professional community.
3. Artificial Intelligence
Remote work can be transformative for businesses, enabling them to reduce overheads while giving employees greater flexibility and freedom. Yet it doesn’t come without its challenges.
Maintaining strong communication and collaboration among dispersed teams is one of the biggest challenges, necessitating reliable communications technologies such as videoconferencing and project management tools.
AI can offer companies an invaluable tool to address these challenges and boost remote work productivity. AI provides businesses with analytics on employee performance and customer feedback that allow for more informed decision-making, while virtual assistants powered by AI technology automate tasks to free up employee time for other pursuits; furthermore it facilitates learning and development with personalized resources that continue expanding employees’ skillsets – something especially critical when maintaining remote work productivity after pandemics strike.
4. The Internet of Things
Now more than ever before, hyperconnection has never been more attainable. Thanks to technology that connects appliances within homes, gadgets with phones and cars with smartwatches – and cars connecting directly with smartwatches – hyperconnectivity has never been so readily accessible. Companies using similar solutions to manage remote work can also utilize hyperconnected technology for team collaboration anywhere at anytime and boost productivity with this approach.
Employers initially adopted remote working as a temporary solution during the pandemic; it has become clear that this work-from-anywhere model is here to stay. Studies show that employees tend to prefer flexible or hybrid models and many indicate their willingness to accept lower pay in exchange for working from anywhere at any time.
Work at home employees may feel more productive while enjoying greater flexibility with their personal lives, while employers can reduce overhead costs by eliminating office space requirements and transportation expenses.
5. Big Data
COVID-19’s pandemic forced millions of people to work remotely for the first time – an evolution which will only accelerate.
Recent polling of hiring managers found that most find remote working arrangements to be exceeding expectations; only 1/10 say things have gone worse.
Hiring managers have also begun planning for even more remote work to occur in the future, which represents a notable increase over what they planned prior to the pandemic. This means more employees will have the flexibility of working from remote locations throughout their career resulting in increased productivity and a more accommodating workforce.
