As the world hunkered down to prepare for a period of social distancing, many businesses were left with a choice: allow their employees to w************* or close up shop. Many chose the former, suddenly thrusting millions of individuals into the home office. Implemented on a temporary basis to ensure operations can continue as normal, this has quickly become the ultimate test case for work-from-home (WFH) policies. The results could shape how companies approach remote work in the future.
We are fortunate enough to be living at a time when many jobs involve a computer and thus can be performed outside of an office setting. This has been heavily bolstered by new innovations in Telecommunications technology, as well as 5G cellular connectivity, which will bring faster speeds and lower latency to the fold. Without these developments, few individuals would have the luxury of working remotely.
For many companies, the concept is still relatively new and includes many unknowns. As a result, some managers may be eager to get back to the office, fearing that if they can’t manage their teams in person, they won’t be able to achieve the same results. But they may not realize that it is now possible to acquire tools that provide the same working experience at home as what they have in the office.
It is too soon to tell how employees will react to this temporary at-home working experience (or “experiment” as some might like to call it), but studies suggest that the concept is popular among workers. In fact, Staples’ annual workplace survey revealed that 90% of workers believe flexible work arrangements and schedules increase employee morale. Working remotely can also reduce stress, which could in turn decrease the number of hours wasted on workplace stressors and worries. All told, if enterprises are satisfied with the results of their temporary WFH strategy, they might be tempted to make it a bit more permanent for employees who oblige.
Read more: Putting Revenue Growth Management on Your 2020 Calendar
Working From Home Means More Time at Home
The average work commute clocks in at 26.1 minutes each way, amounting to more than 50 minutes of drive time. When working from home, that time is immediately given back to the employee, who can take more time to relax, sleep or enjoy the company of family and friends (that is when social distancing is done, of course). The benefits add up fast, saving drivers an average of 4.35 hours per week and more than 17 hours per month.
Parents are particularly receptive to the time savings, as a 9 to 5 schedule can truly be 9 to 5 – no time lost before or after. They are then free to spend more moments with their children. But there is another benefit to consider: those who work remotely drive less and therefore spend less on fuel and create less pollution. And with one less car on the road, congestion is also improved. That latter benefit might seem irrelevant if only a few people w*************, but imagine what would happen if hundreds of companies employed more flexible WFH policies? The congestion and pollution impact would be quite significant.
Read more: Routinely Mobile at Home
An Office From Anywhere
Continued advancements in telecommunications technology mean that remote workers can feel at home no matter where they are working. BYOD (bring your own device) solutions make it possible to complete a job from any location while using any device. This allows personal cell phones to double as work phones, eliminating the need for duplicate products and phone plans.
Sales professionals and contact center agents are served especially well by these modern-day innovations. They may have come into this abrupt WFH environment with concerns or anxiety, feeling as though they belong in a traditional office setting. But by lifting the barriers to communication, those issues can be alleviated.
The Future of Remote Work
Unforeseen circumstances have paved the way for the first true test case for remote work. The temporary transition may not have been planned, but that won’t change the results. Organizations are now getting a firsthand look at how WFH policies could work for them. It may not be right for everyone, but many employers and employees alike will appreciate the benefits that remote work provides.
Read more: Learning to Trust AI in Troubled Times
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.