The Future of Remote Work: How Businesses Are Adapting to a New Normal
Advancing technology, coupled with significant societal changes during the global pandemic, ushered in a new era for the American workforce. Remote and hybrid work may have become the norm based on necessity, but workers soon realized that they appreciated the flexible work arrangements available during this tumultuous time.
Today, years after the pandemic has subsided, business leaders and organizations across all industries are grappling with the demand for workplace flexibility among employees and the need to keep the workforce connected and engaged. Understanding the future of remote work can help the next generation of business leaders approach this transitional time with ingenuity and a commitment to ongoing innovation.
The Evolution of Remote Work
While the internet first enabled workers to begin working remotely, it wasn't until cloud-based platforms were introduced that people could truly begin working and collaborating from home. In a sense, the build-up to the remote work environment that we know today was slow until it became a necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic that began in the early months of 2020.
Remote Work Before the Pandemic
Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work was possible, but it was relatively rare. According to the National Council on Compensation Insurance, only 6 percent of the workforce worked remotely prior to the pandemic, with nearly 75 percent of workers reporting that they never had the opportunity to work from home.
The COVID-19 Catalyst
As the novel COVID-19 virus swept across the world in the early weeks of 2020, it became clear that social distancing would be a necessity, and organizations around the world began to develop remote work models for their employees. Virtual meetings became a hallmark of the pandemic era, particularly for office workers who were responsible for creating new policies and protocols to address the challenges of the pandemic.
The Current State of Remote Work
Today, remote work is still quite common, with many employees working fully remotely or enjoying a hybrid work schedule where they only spend part of the time in the office. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) clarifies that remote work increased dramatically in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and while some industries returned to their pre-pandemic levels, the vast majority continued to offer remote work opportunities for employees.
How Businesses Are Adapting to Remote Work
While remote work became a necessity in the early months of the pandemic, it quickly became clear that these flexible work arrangements would be around for much longer than the social distancing protocols. As a result, businesses had to adapt accordingly, with many developing work-from-home policies that outlined the expectations for remote employees.
Some of the ways that businesses are adapting to remote work include:
Restructuring Operations for Flexibility
Business leaders have had to look at their pre-pandemic policies and protocols and restructure processes to accommodate workplace flexibility. Instead of having specific deadlines that align with the traditional 9-to-5 business hours, business organizations have worked to redesign their operations to provide employees with more autonomy and more versatility.
Investing in Remote Work Technology
Businesses continue to invest in remote work technology to increase overall productivity and improve remote employee engagement rates. Business experts anticipate that advanced technologies, such as AI and machine learning tools, will continue to allow employees to collaborate remotely and become more productive over time.
Redefining Workspaces
The traditional office space no longer exists in most organizations, with many businesses actively working to redefine workspaces to accommodate remote and hybrid work models. In offices where hybrid work is common, there are a lot more collaborative rooms designed for brainstorming and creative thinking rather than private cubicles and isolated spaces for employees to work independently.
Adjusting Leadership and Management Styles
Remote work requires leaders to put more trust in their employees, but in turn, their employees are more likely to feel respected. Businesses across all industries have relied on virtual team-building ideas to keep their virtual teams connected and to continue encouraging their teams to reach all of their organizational goals.
Long-Term Impacts of Remote Work on Business Strategy
Prior to the pandemic, many businesses believed that workers needed to be in the office to stay focused and complete their tasks. However, it became clear during the pandemic and the years that followed that remote work had a positive impact on productivity rates overall.
Talent Acquisition and Retention
Business organizations that want to attract and retain the top talent in their industries almost need to offer workplace flexibility. More than 51 percent of employees today want to work in a fully remote position, while an additional 46 percent prefer a hybrid work model.
Cost Savings and Financial Implications
The fact of the matter is that remote work environments can reduce operational costs for organizations. Some examples of remote work cost savings include:
● Reduced operational costs, including savings on rent and utilities.
● Reduced relocation costs, as employers do not have to pay relocation fees to attract new talent to their organization.
● Reduced equipment costs due to the fact that most organizations have fewer workers on-site.
Innovations in Employee Engagement
The permanent nature of remote work has forced organizations to develop more creative and impactful remote work employee engagement initiatives. Some of the best ways to increase remote employee engagement rates include:
● Acknowledging accomplishments, milestones, birthdays, and anniversaries with personalized gifts.
● Providing remote employees with regular opportunities to check in and receive feedback.
● Developing a performance-based reward system that keeps employees motivated and focused on the tasks at hand.
Sustainability and Environmental Benefits
Remote work models and hybrid work models can also help organizations achieve their sustainability goals. By offering remote work opportunities, businesses can reduce their energy output and decrease the size of their carbon footprint. In addition, employees will spend less time commuting, which also benefits the local environment.
Challenges of Sustaining Remote Work
While many employees prefer to work remotely, there are challenges that business leaders must address, such as:
Addressing Burnout and Isolation
More than 82 percent of employees report experiencing feelings of burnout and excessive stress in the workplace. Businesses can prevent burnout in their remote employees by:
● Establishing a positive remote work culture.
● Encouraging remote employees to disconnect from workplace technology after hours.
● Providing employee well-being services and prioritizing mental health initiatives in the workplace.
Cybersecurity and Data Privacy
Distributed teams and virtual teams are more vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks. Business leaders have to ensure that remote workers have secure workplace technology in their remote environments to protect the private and confidential data stored on cloud-based servers.
Maintaining Innovation and Creativity
Those in remote leadership have to work to encourage innovation and creativity among team members actively. By scheduling regular brainstorming sessions and utilizing advanced remote work technology, business leaders can create a culture of collaboration that lends itself to remote work innovation.
The Hybrid Work Model: A Middle Ground
As the social distancing requirements of the COVID-era began to wane, many business leaders wanted employees to come back to work in the office, at least for part of the time. From there, the hybrid work model was born.
What Is the Hybrid Model?
The hybrid work model is a flexible work model that requires employees to work remotely for part of the time and in the employer's workspace for part of the time. In many hybrid work models, employees can choose when to complete their remote and in-person hours.
Balancing Flexibility and Structure
Many professionals agree that the hybrid work model offers the best of both worlds. It gives employees the ability to work remotely and achieve that sense of work-life balance, but it also provides a structure that promotes collaboration and innovation.
Examples of Successful Hybrid Models
Employers across a wide range of industries have been able to effectively implement hybrid models. Some of the leading hybrid work success stories include:
● Software company Slack has created a hybrid model that requires employees to work key core hours and bans Friday meetings.
● Nike offers a flexible workplace policy that prioritizes employee wellness, which has created a positive remote work culture.
● In addition to offering hybrid work models, Delta provides employees with job-sharing opportunities that can help improve overall work-life balance in its employees.
Preparing for the Future of Work
Modern business students need to begin preparing for the next generation of workplace models, which will likely rely heavily on advanced technology and hybrid work models. You can begin preparing for the future of work by:
Continuous Learning and Adaptation
In addition to pursuing a business degree, you can prioritize ongoing learning and workplace training to stay abreast of emerging industry trends that will shape work environments in the future.
Leveraging Data for Decision-Making
Data-based decision-making will continue to play a critical role in the business landscape, requiring all aspiring leaders to understand how to harvest and analyze business data.
Embracing a Remote-First Mindset
Remote work is no longer considered to be an alternate option. The business leaders of tomorrow will need to embrace a remote-first mindset in which employees are trusted to craft a work model that accommodates their personal needs while prioritizing workplace productivity.
Explore the Leading Remote Workforce Management Strategies at Indiana Wesleyan University
While the remote work best practices will likely continue to change and evolve in the coming years, students at Indiana Wesleyan University will still build a strong foundation in remote workforce management. All programs offered through the DeVoe Division of Business at IWU provide students with an opportunity to work with the leading digital collaboration tools as they explore the leadership principles and strategies required to lead with integrity.
Learn more about the IWU degree programs and request more information today.
Sources
https://www.indwes.edu/academics/cas/school-of-professional-studies/division-of-business/
https://www.ncci.com/SecureDocuments/QEB/QEB_Q4_2020_RemoteWork.html
https://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-13/remote-work-productivity.htm
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230912-the-companies-sticking-to-fully-remote-work
https://www.business.com/articles/remote-work-good-for-business/
https://www.hrotoday.com/news/only-5-of-employees-prefer-working-in-the-office/
https://www.business.com/articles/working-from-home-save-money/
https://www.cipd.org/en/knowledge/guides/planning-hybrid-working/
https://www.deskpass.com/resources/hybrid-work/flex-work-success-stories-of-2023
