While early in the Great Reshuffle many companies assumed in a few months it would be back to the office, as usual, this has definitely not been the case. Pew Research numbers tell the story:
Among workers who say their jobs can be done from home, only 23% were working remotely pre-pandemic; at the height of the lockdown, this number increased to 71%. However, as things slowly realign, the rest of the distributed workforce shows no signs of wanting to go back to the office, and 59% say they hope not to return to an in-office environment.
Remote Work Is Here To Stay: Here’s Why
There are six very good reasons remote work is here to stay:
1. Productivity spikes
Despite dire predictions from corporate heads that productivity would dive if employers weren’t able to monitor their employees every second on the clock, productivity actually went up. Apparently, when workers are relieved of the necessity to spend time, money, and energy on commutes, work wardrobes, and juggling schedules, they have more of all three to use on the job. Increased productivity has been a hallmark of the success of remote work.
2. Flexibility benefits
Remote work made it possible for workers to get what many employees have long been begging for: flexibility in not just where and how they work, but when. As employer perspectives slowly begin to shift to appreciate productivity over punching a time clock, workers feel trusted and free to do their tasks on a time schedule that fits their needs. As long as deadlines are met, most employers seem happy. There are definitely pros and cons to remote vs office work!
3. Cost savings
Overhead for companies who shifted to a distributed workforce plummeted as leases ended on office space and organizations downsized or eliminated a brick and mortar presence entirely. Savings are reaching up to $11,000 for each employee moved to remote status, and those funds can now be redirected to R&D, innovation, marketing, and even hiring bonuses are larger benefits packages in a now competitive recruitment environment.
[See Remote Work and Diversity: Ensuring Your Distributed Workforce Is Diverse]
4. Better access
Remote work empowers both employers now capable of leveraging distributed teams and members of those teams. Workers can hire at a major company without moving to a large city. Businesses can leverage talent from another state or another country where the cost of living is lower. Making matches between skills and job positions is easier than ever since organizations have their pick of the best talent fit for a role instead of only what’s available in the local geographic area. Quality of hire goes up in response.
5. Hybrid work
There isn’t a rule that your organization has to choose between an on-site workforce and a fully distributed one. Many companies and employees are finding that a hybrid approach works best for everyone; meetings can be scheduled on certain days of the week when it’s helpful to have team members assemble, and everyone can work from home the rest of the time. Hybrid work is a trend to watch in 2022.
6. Economy boosts
Remote professionals spend their resources differently from those locked into a 9 to 5. Local communities benefit when their residents are able to spend their time and money there instead of in the city or along the commute line.
All of these are reasons remote work is here to stay. Your company can recruit and onboard remote employees successfully using tools from Crosschq, including:
Want to learn more? Request a free demo today.
%20-200x43.png)
Crosschq Blog
