Is full-time office work officially dead? The modern workforce is constantly evolving, with new trends ranging from the idea of a shorter workweek to the use of more A.I technology in the workplace and even the concept of remote work.
The Covid-19 pandemic really highlighted the importance of this new work trend as most places were forced to adapt to working from home to ensure the survival of their business. However, has this idea of a “virtual office” only been idolised due to the pandemic or was this change in the workplace a long time coming?
The increase in teleworking has definitely changed the definition of the workplace. It is no longer only a physical entity. The office is no longer the pinnacle of the standard workplace, which brings us back to the question, are remote jobs the future? And is this something that can withstand the test of time? In our previous article, we discussed the idea of a 4-day workweek or simply a shorter work week overall. More and more employees have been campaigning for shorter workweeks so that they can achieve a better work-life balance. Could remote jobs be the solution?
The evolution of remote work.
20 years ago remote work was not that much normalised. This is largely due to the society at that time’s mentality. It is fair to say that the progress of technology and the internet, specifically wireless internet, in our era has contributed to the rise of remote jobs. Today, everyone we know owns a computer or at least a phone. And for most remote jobs, that’s all employees need. Not to mention, the existence of sites and apps such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams which make teleconferencing, online webinars and team meetings, possible. The pandemic has simply amplified the existence of remote work.
“Working from home rose five-fold from 2019 to 2023, with 40% of US employees now working remotely at least one day a week,” according to the Stanford’s institute for Economic Policy Research.
Remote work undeniably has its advantages. The ability to combine the workplace and one’s living space seems to be a combo for more business productivity.
1. It’s cost effective
Employees no longer have to spend a fortune on their daily commute to work . With remote work, the job can be done anywhere. This not only benefits the employees but also the company as companies that resort to remote work no longer need to constantly fund an office space or working area for their team. Some jobs already offer employees the chance to work remotely one day in the workweek.
2. Employees are happier
Remote work mutually benefits the employee and the company. The happier the employee, the higher the business productivity and the greater the profits.
A survey done by Owl Labs reported that “ workers who were working at home reported being happy 22% more than workers who always work in an onsite office environment.” Their survey also concluded that these employees “reported having less stress, more focus, and a better work-life balance. The remote workers also worked over 40 hours a week 43% more compared to workers that never worked remotely.”
3. A larger global talent pool
Companies no longer need to limit themselves to workers in their city. With remote work they can expand and reach out to people who are in other countries who can bring something original to the workplace. Likewise, employees have more options as they can also apply for jobs with global companies without having to move their live to the other side of the globe.
The pandemic forced everyone to adopt a remote work style and lifestyle. Remote jobs became a necessity and this change proved that most jobs can be done at home, as such was the case, when the world did not have a choice. However, the peak of the pandemic is long gone so it’s safe enough to say remote work is here to stay. As modern workforce trends continue to evolve and remote work slowly becomes a norm, it is possible that it will become the new normal in upcoming years.
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