A 2021 global survey of people who were working at least partly remotely found that 80% of respondents would recommend this style of work to their friends. While this is a 10% decline from the findings of the previous year, it still shows that people overwhelmingly prefer to work from home — or at least away from the office.
Prior to the pandemic, remote work was job function email list an option for some workers, but it was hardly the norm. Fast forward to a year and a half after COVID-19, and many employees have found themselves working exclusively from home.
But as we all look toward a hopeful future, one where the pandemic will be a distant memory, business leaders are left to wonder: is remote work sustainable?
Advantages
Greater Productivity
Omdia’s Future of Work survey found that 68% of businesses believe productivity among their employees has increased since they transitioned to remote work. These findings are consistent with research on remote work productivity conducted before the pandemic.
These findings fly in the face of some leaders’ skepticism about productivity and remote work, with many believing that it would fall, given the distractions that abound at home and other factors.
Cost-Effectiveness
Employees and businesses alike save money when remote work becomes part of the equation. For one, employees don’t have to deal business opportunities and potential clients through a social media strategy with costly commutes while employers save on overhead costs, including office space and equipment. The savings can really add up — as much as roughly $11,000 per employee each year, according to research.
Talent Acquisition and Retention
A 2021 FlexJobs study found that 58% of those surveyed would “absolutely look for a new job if they cannot continue remote work.” The remote job-search site also found that 24% of workers would be willing to take a 10-20% pay cut if it meant they could work remotely, while 21% would give up some of their vacation time.
This suggests that employers will be more able to attract and retain employees if they offer remote work as an option.
Disadvantages
Lack of Collaboration
When you can’t see your employees and colleagues in a face-to-face setting, collaboration can be more difficult.
Fortunately, collaboration isn’t impossible canada data in a remote work setting. We’ll go into some strategies to facilitate it below.
Burnout
Work-life balance is all the more difficult when employees are working in the same setting in which they live. With blurred boundaries, they can easily work extended hours and feel exhausted, leading to burnout.