The world came to a halt in 2020. We suddenly realized that many of the tasks we used to commute to the offices could be accomplished just as efficiently from the comfort of our homes.
Even as things are returning to usual, many employees still look forward to continuing to work from home.
With that in mind, let’s look through some remote work trends to understand what the future holds!
Here are some top remote work trends for the upcoming year:
1. Employer Openness to Work
Employees are now considerably more confident that working from home will not impact productivity.
As a result, companies are now placing emphasis on flexible work schedules in their organization’s policies. It empowers employees to complete their tasks without commuting or clocking in for 8 hours every day. Research shows that this type of working arrangement has increased employees’ productivity, mental health, and physical well-being.
For example, offering a hybrid work model that combines remote work with office time A hybrid model offers the best of both worlds by cutting business costs while keeping employees satisfied, healthy, and engaged.
It is becoming increasingly clear that flexible schedules do have benefits for all parties involved. Especially when operating in a 24/7 global environment. The fact remains that HR professionals will need to understand flexible work schedules provide these liberties in the workplace. And if they want to attract and keep their employees.
2. Adoption of Productivity Tools Is on the Rise
Technology is the engine behind the surge in remote work opportunities. Companies need to ensure communication and information are accessible to everyone online. This involves increasing the use of tools and software that eliminate the barriers between virtual and physical workplaces. Also, opens new ways to interact and collaborate.
For instance, many remote firms are adopting automation recruitment software to manage and streamline their hiring process. The tool offers features like a centralized dashboard, real-time visibility, reports, and analytics. These features help recruiters, project managers, and decision-makers work in sync remotely, thereby increasing hiring productivity.
3. Virtual Collaboration
It goes without saying that the quality of the service employees give is based on how well they communicate and work together. Since a remote work setup makes it hard for employees to communicate every day. It is important to use a digital platform to help them bond and work together.
With this change, cloud-based unified communication tools like Skype, Zoom, and Slack become the most important tools for managing remote workers and resources. Several studies on remote work have found that communication tools help employees connect with and talk to other team members and build trust in the most personal way.
4. Data-Centric Approach
As 2023 approaches, an increasing number of organizations are modernizing their human resources departments through the use of data analytics in direct sourcing and talent acquisition. HR professionals can also use data to determine why employees are leaving organizations and reduce turnover. People analytics, or insights gained from data pertaining to workforce talent, are assisting companies in uncovering vital information regarding organizational success and employee demands.
Companies are implementing cloud computing, collaborative technology, and digitization to enhance HR processes and the employee experience.
5. Digital Employer Branding
Before COVID-19, businesses used strategies like creating cool office space, offering unlimited snacks, and flexible vacation leaves as a method of advertising their company brand.
However, in this era of remote working, digital employer branding is the most important recruitment trend that every company should pay attention to. Companies are now recognizing that to effectively brand themselves online, they must have an authentic approach. These days, what matters most is honesty and transparency on the internet, particularly through social media.
Because every job candidate examines a company’s reputation and brand before applying for a position. As a result, employers are beginning to understand the importance of maintaining or enhancing their online brand image.
Digital employer branding is all about telling interesting stories about your employees and the work they do through social media, posting videos about your company culture, and sharing positive employee reviews online.
6. Increasing Need for Cybersecurity
With the rise of remote working, the need for improved cybersecurity will become increasingly important for enterprises. Personal devices used by remote employees are far more vulnerable to cybersecurity risks when they are not protected by a secure office network infrastructure.
According to a survey, 71% of security officials openly confess that they lack the resources to secure remote employee networks. This fact emphasizes the critical need for more advanced cybersecurity solutions. When sensitive information must be made available for remote work, more thought must be given to how to safeguard that data from reaching unauthorized hands.
7. Conscious Efforts toward employee well-being
Many employees face burnout during remote working. As a result, companies are becoming more conscious of the consequences of an unhealthy and imbalanced work-life balance. It can cause extreme stress, and mental health problems, as well as affect employee general wellness.
As a result, many businesses are putting work-life balance, wellness, and mental health at the forefront of their efforts to create a healthy work environment for all employees.
This involves actively maintaining a sufficient work-life balance, having managers co nduct regular check-ins with employees to ensure they’re doing well, and actively supporting and giving wellness perks and rewards.
Some organizations provide gym memberships, healthy food kits, access to wellness apps, and a variety of other activities to support employees and minimize stress and burnout.
8. Remote Work is Here to Stay
Before the pandemic, the majority of organizations did not have work-from-home policies. However, during the pandemic, remote working quickly went from a choice to a default option for many companies. During this time, both employers and employees realized the benefits that come with this model. Gradually, it became the preferred method of working for many members of the workforce.
Indeed, it is estimated that by the end of this year, 25% of all open positions will be remote, with the figure expected to rise even further by 2023. Work-from-home rates have more than tripled from 4% to 15% since the pandemic began.
A Zapier survey also found that 64% of candidates believed that remote work had made them more productive. As time passes, remote work will become a personal preference, providing employees with the flexibility to choose how to spend their time working. In a nutshell, it benefits all parties involved.
Conclusion
Remote work offers numerous advantages, including job satisfaction, more flexibility, cost savings, and improved work-life balance. Remote work software, such as mobile work tools and virtual reality conferencing, is predicted to become the preferred mode of communication in the future, even surpassing face-to-face meetings. AI will also likely play a major role in managing remote staff.
These advancements might put organizations more at ease. The transition to managing a remote workforce might be scary, but with the right technology and strategy in place, it can be a seamless process.
