Remote working was already increasingly popular, but it skyrocketed during Covid. All of a sudden, everyone had to work from home and companies had to get creative to make this work. In the meantime, quite a few of us went back to the office, but not all. Hybrid working is very popular now. According to Forbes, in the US in 2023 no less than 12.7% of full-time employees worked from home, while 28.2% worked a hybrid model. Is remote work a good idea? And how do you handle it?
Remote work is good for business
If you implement it well, remote work is an excellent idea for most. As we discussed earlier, there is a business case for remote work. This case is presented in a report by Global Workplace Analytics. The report, drawing from a wide range of research papers and surveys, provides compelling evidence of the benefits of remote work, not just for employers and employees, but also for the environment and society at large.
Benefits of remote work
There are many benefits for those with remote-compatible jobs. They can be summarized into three categories:
Employee benefits
Employees who can work remotely at least a few times a week can save on three valuable commodities: time, money, and health. For instance, remote work eliminates the daily commute, potentially saving U.S. workers the equivalent of 28 days a year.
Employer benefits
Employers also stand to gain from remote work. These benefits include reduced overhead costs, increased productivity, and access to a bigger talent pool. Imagine if you could hire the best worldwide, instead of the best within a one-hour commute of the office!Remote working saves money too. Research says employers can save $11,000 per employee when switching to remote work. Eleven thousand. Just saying.
Environmental & societal benefits
The environmental benefits of remote work are clear, with fewer commuters leading to reduced carbon emissions. Society also benefits from the reduced strain on infrastructure and public transportation systems.
This sentiment is echoed in a survey where a staggering 95 percent of U.S. employees expressed their preference for some form of remote work.
Remote work aligns with our mission: to make work more fun (and teach you how to do that)
At Corporate Rebels, we want to increase happiness at work. Remote work offers the flexibility and autonomy that can make work more enjoyable and effective. It allows employees to tailor their work environment to their needs, thereby increasing satisfaction and productivity.
Remote work aligns with our commitment to explore progressive ways of working. It's not just about working from home, it's about reimagining work in a way that prioritizes people's happiness and well-being. This creates workplaces that are more human, more engaging, and more fun. Just what we like!
In our journey as Corporate Rebels, we've encountered numerous organizations that have successfully implemented remote work. These organizations serve as inspiring examples of how remote work can lead to happier employees and huge business successes.
In fact, you can follow their footsteps by starting with our courses.
Challenges of remote working:
There is a strong case to be made that remote work should not be polarized into a yes or no option — either everyone in the office or everyone remote. Instead, a balanced approach, where the optimal mix of remote and office work can be tailored to the specific needs of each organization, is a healthy approach.
Having said that, there are some challenges that remote workers face. Here are some.
So, how to transition to remote work?
That is the million-dollar question. Subscribing to our courses is a good place to start. You can learn how to transform your organization, boost psychological safety (essential for remote staffers) or how to distribute work into autonomous roles.
The future of remote work
According to Upwork an estimated 32.6 million Americans will be working remotely by 2025. That’s about 22% of the workforce. Another survey shows 98% of workers want to work remotely or in some hybrid way.
So there’s a decent chance we’re heading that way. Millennials (and soon Gen Z) are the bulk of the workforce at the moment. In general, they value flexibility and a good work-life balance.
If an organization isn’t onboard with at least a form of hybrid working, they may miss out on talent. So set up the tools and workspace, communication lines, and get on board. When it’s done well, everyone will benefit.