A decade ago, the concept of remote work was a rarity. However, the landscape of teleconferencing and telework technology has evolved significantly, reaching a point where certain businesses thrive with fully remote teams.
The obvious changes toward widespread remote working gained its peak during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond its role in reducing the spread of illness, remote work has demonstrated numerous advantages.
Considering the ongoing trend of remote work, it becomes important to master the utilization of remote communication technology. With the right tools in place, a remote team can prove to be just as, if not more, effective than a traditional in-office setup.
Is remote work effective? Ten years ago, employers were skeptical about employees working from home regularly. They were concerned about a potential drop in productivity. However, the pandemic showed that employees can be effective working from their own spaces.
Recent studies showed that remote workers became 47% more productive during the lockdown in March and April 2020. Communication activities, like a 57% increase in emailing, a 230% rise in telephoning, and a 9% jump in chat messaging, highlighted the effectiveness of remote work.
Basically, remote work is effective if done carefully. It may not be the best for everyone, and success depends on considering individual and organizational needs.
Pros of Remote Work
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Enhanced Work-Life Balance
No more dealing with traffic and long commutes. Remote employees enjoy more time with family or hobbies, leading to better focus on work and increased productivity.
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Flexibility
Traditional employees usually have to stick to an 8-9 hour office day, leaving little time for personal tasks or breaks. Remote workers, especially those with flexible schedules, enjoy the freedom to set their own working hours. Whether working early or late, the emphasis is on getting tasks done, not just spending hours at work.
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Improved Employee Experience
Not having to commute, take long coffee breaks, or stay away from family boosts the overall employee experience. A workplace that focuses on employee satisfaction encourages high performance and motivates employees to excel in their roles.
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Reduced Business and Infrastructure Expenses
Remote work means needing less office space, desks, and equipment. Smaller offices are enough for fewer on-site employees, leading to big savings on rent and infrastructure costs. Studies show organizations can save up to $2,000 for each remote employee by cutting down office expenses.
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Surge in Productivity
Remote workers start their workdays positively and without the hassle of commuting like traditional office-goers. Without frequent breaks or interruptions, they can fully focus on tasks, resulting in increased productivity. A significant 75% of employees say they have fewer disruptions when working remotely, with 77% stating they are more productive working from home.
Cons of Remote Work
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Information Accessibility Challenges
Remote workers might struggle to get important information without a good onboarding process or enough support. On average, employees spend 30 percent of their workday looking for information, and this increases when working remotely. Limited interactions with colleagues make it harder to ask for help, leading to lower productivity and engagement.
How to Improve: Using a unified digital workplace platform can make it easier for remote employees to access work-related data and applications, making their workflow smoother.
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Reduced Collaboration Opportunities
Remote work usually means less casual interaction among team members, like chatting over lunch or coffee breaks. Even though these conversations may seem small, they're important for team coordination and communication. If interactions are limited to work-related discussions only, it can make team members uncomfortable, and they might hesitate to ask for help with challenges.
How to Improve: Organize informal team discussions to provide opportunities for team members to connect and catch up on a personal level, fostering a sense of partnership.
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Health issues
The computer is an indispensable tool in various professions and activities, for both adults and children. However, extended periods of computer usage can heighten the risk of developing health issues. Improper computer use has the potential to result in muscle and joint pain, overuse injuries affecting the shoulder, lower back, arm, wrist, or hand, and eye strain. It is crucial to be mindful of ergonomic practices and take regular breaks to mitigate the adverse effects associated with prolonged computer use.
How to Reduce: Make sure there is a proper lighting, make regular breaks, organize the workspace, follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds to reduce eye strain as well as implement apps such as BLiiNK. The latter addresses health issues related to prolonged computer use, offering AI-powered features to promote healthy habits and alleviate problems like eye strain and poor posture.
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Loneliness and Isolation
Commuting to the office gives a sense of purpose and social engagement. But working alone at home with just a laptop can be very lonely. Some people go to coworking spaces or cafes to avoid loneliness. Long isolation can lead to frustration, burnout, and lower efficiency.
How to Reduce: Regularly organize virtual team building activities to foster a sense of connection among all employees, helping alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation.
In conclusion, remote work has proven to be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it offers a plethora of benefits such as enhanced work-life balance, flexibility, improved employee experience, reduced business costs, and a potential surge in productivity. On the other hand, it poses significant challenges including information accessibility, reduced collaboration opportunities, health issues, and feelings of loneliness and isolation.