When working from home became essential during the pandemic, we all wondered if remote work would last. The truth is that the pandemic has completely changed the way we work and we’ve found ongoing reasons why remote work is still essential—and here to stay—in 2023.
1. Flexibility
From who you can work with globally to the hours each employee is on the clock, there’s no denying the flexibility that remote work has brought to both companies and workers. Remote work has often been an attraction for people to move into freelance, too. But now that many companies offer remote work to full-time staff, everyone can enjoy the flexibility of working with everyone, everywhere, with improved respect for individual work/life balance and familial responsibilities.
2. Most people like it more than the office
Remote work is something we’ve all had a taste of—and for many it’s become a priority in looking for new work. Companies that do not offer remote work might find it more difficult to find talent. A recent study shows that 87% of respondents from a variety of industries said they’d take the option to work remotely over not. It was always desirable pre-pandemic, with 90% of people planning on working remotely for the rest of their lives. Now, post-pandemic, many consider it essential.
3. The Unbeatable Feeling of Autonomy
Working remotely reinforces trust in company culture when workers are left to their own where/when of work. In the Before Times, burnout would lead to more calling in as employees could not find the time to care for themselves outside of in-office demands. Now that people can prioritize both their self-care and their job responsibilities, they’ve experienced the joy of autonomy over their lives—one that overrules the desire for most people to dress up, commute, and work in-office under the gaze of others.
4. Better Performance at Work
With privacy, trust, autonomy, and respect for these self-managing workers comes improved work performance all around. There is less room for distraction, like co-workers coming up to your desk while you’re working or the tangential conversations we used to have around the coffee machine. Not that these interactions were necessarily bad, but workers can have stronger boundaries now. They can put up their “do not disturb” away message or signal that they are open for a chat on Slack. The only drawback to remote work in this area is the number of remote work meetings that clutter our calendars. The joke is true: most meetings could have been an email! Therefore, if meetings can be kept to a minimum, and communication is solid, then individual work and natural collaboration can flourish.
5. It costs less for companies
As many companies are already aware, offices—with their maintenance, utilities, and rent costs—are sometimes more expensive than it’s worth. With the rise of remote work, companies can now find other uses for that offset cost. Some businesses are able to offer more competitive salaries and benefits to their people without the costs of an office. Other businesses have decided to offer stipends to workers for their own studio space or have found it more cost-effective to rent spaces sporadically. With the economic downturns we continue to experience, it’s not surprising how many companies are thriving without a physical office.
TLDR; The ability to work remotely is increasingly essential for individuals and companies alike. In order to thrive both personally and as a whole company, remote work has become a non-negotiable benefit for most people.
If you are a company looking to round out your remote team with talent or you’re a professional looking to land your next remote gig, we can help!
