What’s Next for Remote Working?

While remote working was on the rise before the pandemic, businesses in all industries were forced into this way of working earlier this year, and now many see this as “the new normal”. This is because remote working has, in many cases, been a hugely successful way of working during the COVID-19 outbreak, and many businesses plan on continuing with this even once the threat of the virus has passed. It can bring advantages to both the employer and the employee, but it does also pose a few unique challenges and issues. So, what does the future of remote working look like?

Flexibility

While some businesses are stating that they will be switching entirely to remote work for the foreseeable future, some will want staff to occasionally come into the office throughout the week. This could be a good balance, as studies have shown that many people do actually miss coming into the office, and there are certain aspects of their role, which are better completed in the office. However, they still would like flexibility and the option to work remotely.

Development of Tools & Software

For businesses to succeed and employees to work effectively, advanced tools and software have to be developed to overcome some of the challenges that remote work can bring. As an example, Code Software can make it easy to monitor and support remote staff by providing critical data and insights into areas like productivity levels, call quality, and UC monitoring.

Companies Hiring People Regardless of Location

If a business decides to have an entirely remote workforce, this means that the geographical location of its employees is no longer an issue, so it is likely that businesses will significantly expand their parameters when searching for new employees. This could help them to secure the best talent, and from an employee’s perspective, it provides many more opportunities as you are not limited by where you can get to.

Greater Focus on Mental Health

As previously mentioned, there are a few unique challenges and issues when it comes to remote work, and mental health is perhaps the biggest concern. Many people report missing the social aspect of coming into an office, and it is easy to feel isolated when working from home, particularly for those that live by themselves. This means that there might possibly be a higher focus on mental health, which means that businesses need to think about how they can look after their staff. A few options which seem to be effective include:

Weekly check-ins

Non-work-related video calls with teams

Occasional social events

Internal newsletters

Flexible work schedules

Encouraging the use of co-working spaces

It has been fascinating to see how businesses have had to adapt during COVID-19, with many finding that remote work can actually bring many benefits to all parties. Many industries plan on continuing with remote work for the foreseeable future, and the above are some of the main areas that businesses are likely to address.