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The worldwide employment landscape has changed massively in recent years, with millions of people now choosing to undertake their work duties remotely.
Having the choice to work in the location of their choice is now a key factor for many graduates or for employees who are considering where their next career move will take them.
Plenty of small to medium-sized IT services companies like Archon are now hiring remote-only positions, highlighting the appeal of remote working for business owners.
However, some firms have been extremely resistant to change by insisting that job roles must be office-based and are making it difficult for people to work remotely.
Read on as we take a comprehensive look at remote working and assess how it will define the next decade of work.
Workers clamor for remote working options
Numerous studies have shown that an increasing number of employees are embracing the idea of working remotely.
For example, employment screening service GoodHire recently surveyed 3,500 American workers to gain closer insights into remote working.
They found that 68% of Americans would choose remote working over in-office work, while 60% would move to a new city just for the opportunity to work remotely in any capacity.
Almost three-quarters of respondents believe that companies who fail to offer remote working options will lose out on top talent in the future.
While workers appear to be clamoring to take advantage of opportunities to work remotely, the survey did uncover some rather worrying factors.
Employees happy to forfeit salary and benefits
Almost two-thirds of the people surveyed said they would be willing to take a pay cut if they had the opportunity to work remotely full-time.
Most respondents claimed that a 10% reduction in salary would be acceptable, although quite why they felt it should even happen was unclear.
The study also found that 70% of respondents would have no problem giving up benefits such as healthcare, insurance and gym memberships if it allowed them to be a remote worker.
However, as highlighted by Google’s recent threat to cut workers’ pay by up to 25% if they choose to work from home full-time, this mindset could leave workers vulnerable to exploitation.
Given that companies can save on overheads, it is difficult to understand why any employer would take this stance or why an employee would be happy to forgo salary and benefits to work remotely.
Remote working practices provide numerous benefits
Some firms have argued that allowing employees to work remotely has a negative impact on their ability to create a corporate culture and makes it more difficult to manage the business.
However, according to Global Workplace Analytics, businesses actually lose around $600 billion per year to workplace distractions.
Other research has shown that 95% of workers believe their productivity is the same or higher when they are allowed to work remotely.
The top reasons include a quieter working environment, more comfortable workspaces and the removal of office politics.
Remote workers are generally more satisfied with their jobs than their office-based counterparts, meaning that they are more likely to remain loyal to an employer.
Many employees who work remotely also report an improvement in their mental health, with the practice giving them a much improved work-life balance.
Working remotely also provides several environmental benefits, including helping to reduce traffic congestion and lowering air pollution from commuting.
Remote working gives people more flexibility about where they live, allowing them to relocate to more affordable areas if they wish to do so.
Working remotely boom will continue apace
The boom in popularity of working remotely is unlikely to slow down as companies and employees become increasingly switched on to the benefits it offers.
A recent study by Upwork forecast that 36.2 million Americans will be working remotely by 2025, a figure that represents 22% of the workforce.
While ditching the grind of 9-5 working is many people’s dream, it is important to remember that there of plenty of factors to consider before heading down that route.
Maintaining productivity is undoubtedly at the top of the list, as employers have a right to receive at least the same level of output you would deliver in the workplace.
If you are the type of employee who needs structure and hands-on management, it may well be the case that remote working is not for you.
However, if you thrive on the flexibility of being able to choose your own working hours and the location where you work, ditching the workplace grind will be right up your street.
Advancements in digital technology and the creation of online collaboration tools has made it extremely easy for people to be successful as remote workers.
Instant messaging tools such as Slack and Skype make it easy for teams to stay in touch, and provide employees with an ideal way to ensure that their workers deliver what is expected of them.
Increased integration between devices and improved cloud-based storage services will make it even easier for businesses to fully embrace remote working over the next decade.
Remote working by 2030 – The Final Word
While some businesses are still showing a reluctance to allow employees to work remotely, they are expected to be in the majority as we head towards 2030.
With research highlighting that remote workers are at least as productive as their workplace counterparts, companies have no reason not to facilitate the practice.
Job satisfaction, improved mental health and positive environmental impact are other excellent reasons for adopting remote working.
The firms that are flexible in addressing the administrative and technological challenges working remotely presents are undoubtedly the ones who will be most successful over the next decade.
Governments will need to ensure that employment legislation protects workers against losing what they are entitled to if they wish to work remotely.
However, with some analysts predicting that there will be more than 250 million remote workers by 2030, its is clear that the practice is here to stay.
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