Chances are if you had an office job before the pandemic hit you have been sent home with a laptop to work remotely. For the last several years only about 10% of workers have been able to work remotely at least part of the time, and many companies have been reluctant to make this change. But the pandemic made remote work a necessity to keep businesses going, and the sudden and unexpected transition has been bumpy for many. Once the pandemic passes, there’s a high degree of likelihood that remote work will continue to be the norm, but it takes a lot of trust to make it work.
The possibility of remote work under normal circumstances leads to boosted morale, greater productivity, and even lower overhead as companies don’t have to pay for office space, break rooms, cleaning services, and more.
On top of all that, there is one often overlooked benefit of having a wider talent pool from which to choose. When you have a physical office that everyone has to report to on a daily basis, your talent pool is limited to people who can reasonably drive there every day. When you have a remote workforce, you can cast a wider net, pulling in talent from across the world, which can give you the exact right person for the job instead of just the best choice in the region.
In the early days, there were headlines about tone-deaf managers ordering those working from home to answer the phone immediately, even if it’s an unknown number, or make sure they are available for video chats at random. Remote workers were sometimes being treated as though they were working remotely in order to scam the company.
But now it’s becoming more apparent that remote workers are going to be the ones keeping companies running safely, and that is a valuable thing to have in uncertain times. In order to make the shift successful, remote workers need to be and feel trusted.
Because of the pandemic, 67% of employers that have jobs that can be done at home are working to ensure those jobs are being done remotely. As a result, 78% of remote workers feel they will be healthier at home, while 53% believe that remote working will have a positive impact on their lives.
Learn more about the psychology of trusting remote workers below.
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The Value Of Remote Work
91% of remote workers report a better work/life balance compared to working in an office. The possibility of working remotely even part of the time is a huge draw to many potential employees. Not only do they get to cut their commute out periodically, but they also feel more trusted and trustworthy when they are given the responsibility of working from home.The possibility of remote work under normal circumstances leads to boosted morale, greater productivity, and even lower overhead as companies don’t have to pay for office space, break rooms, cleaning services, and more.
On top of all that, there is one often overlooked benefit of having a wider talent pool from which to choose. When you have a physical office that everyone has to report to on a daily basis, your talent pool is limited to people who can reasonably drive there every day. When you have a remote workforce, you can cast a wider net, pulling in talent from across the world, which can give you the exact right person for the job instead of just the best choice in the region.
The Sudden Shift To Remote Work
When change is unexpected, it can be difficult for everyone involved. The pandemic came suddenly, and although health officials had warned of the possibility for years, most people were not prepared for the reality of overnight change. Suddenly workers who had been told that their jobs couldn’t be done from home were given the tools to do so in order to keep the company going in the face of overwhelming stress.In the early days, there were headlines about tone-deaf managers ordering those working from home to answer the phone immediately, even if it’s an unknown number, or make sure they are available for video chats at random. Remote workers were sometimes being treated as though they were working remotely in order to scam the company.
But now it’s becoming more apparent that remote workers are going to be the ones keeping companies running safely, and that is a valuable thing to have in uncertain times. In order to make the shift successful, remote workers need to be and feel trusted.
Trust Is The Key
Trusting people to do their jobs remotely is the same as trusting people to do their jobs in the office. People who feel trusted succeed at work, while those that feel mistrusted struggle. Employees that feel trusted report significantly higher levels of energy and motivation at work, are more engaged in tasks, and are less likely to succumb to burnout on the job.Because of the pandemic, 67% of employers that have jobs that can be done at home are working to ensure those jobs are being done remotely. As a result, 78% of remote workers feel they will be healthier at home, while 53% believe that remote working will have a positive impact on their lives.
Learn more about the psychology of trusting remote workers below.
- Related: The Latest Tech That Can Help You Work Smarter, Not Harder, As You Work Remotely (infographic)
Read next: Working from home: Email and Video calling tools popular with the professionals