Remote work
is on the rise.
One study
recently found that 70% of global employees are working remotely at least once
per week. Another 50% of employees are working remotely for about half of the
week.
The
conventional “fixed” place of work isn’t as popular as it once was.
New generations and updated technology have prompted an evolution in the
workplace as we know it. Upwork believes that 73% of all teams will have some remote
workers on-board by 2028.
As a
society, human beings are no stranger to the changing workforce. We’ve seen
evolutions in everything from office design to the tools that people use to
stay productive each day. The question is, what are the remote working trends
that we’re facing today, and how do they affect employees?
1. New business essentials appear
Today’s business essentials are becoming more diverse. For a remote team to remain
productive, they need more than just a business phone number and an email
address. Instead, your workers want project management tools, scheduling apps,
workplace chat tools like Slack and more.
Work from
home trends is encouraging vendors to come up with new and more effective ways
to drive productivity for people who need to perform outside of the office. In
2019, we’ll see the collaboration tool market continue to evolve. What’s more,
with things like 5G connections on the horizon, it might become easier for
companies to embrace tools like HD video conferencing to keep people connected.
2. Security becomes a bigger concern
Safety is a
crucial consideration in any digital workplace. However, it’s becoming
increasingly important when combined with today’s workplace trends. Remote work
requires additional security measures in place. For instance, teams need to use
VPNs to connect to the internet, and two-factor authentication to ensure that
that lost devices or stolen devices don’t lead to disaster.
Through
two-factor authentication and biometric security from Nice Network, companies can start to upgrade
their security strategies to suit the remote workforce. Remember, though remote
workers may be more satisfied and productive than their counterparts, 28% say
that they have no confidence when it comes to managing their own security.
3. Employee engagement grows into a crucial priority
As work
from home trends continue to evolve, there’s one major downside to the digital
workforce that companies are starting to recognise. When people don’t
collaborate face-to-face, company culture starts to suffer, and individuals
feel lonelier and more isolated. If your people don’t feel connected to their
peers, then they’re less likely to be happy and satisfied at work.
Unfortunately, disengaged employees are also less productive, efficient, and
reliable.
The good
news is that there are ways for organisations to re-engage their remote
workers. For instance, when everyone on your team has the right connectivity, you can get together for regular
video conferences where people can build relationships by communicating face to
face. Other options include:
- Inviting
people into the office for regular meetings
- Offering
clear paths to advancement with ongoing training and development
- Providing
daily updates on the business through email newsletters
4. Increased competition for job seekers
The quest
for better work/life balance means that more people than ever before want to
work remotely. What’s more, people enjoy remote working trends so much that
they don’t want to return to the 9-to-5 routine afterward.
Unfortunately,
now that Gen Z will takeover about 36% of the
global workforce by
2020, there’ll be even more competition for flexible jobs. Gen Z grew up with
the tools and software we rely on for remote working today – they’re more than
happy to become digital nomads in their career.
The only
way for people to stand out in an increasingly competitive job market is to
prove that they’re worth the investment. Advanced, tech-savvy candidates with a
specialist nature will be in high demand in the years to come. Jack of all
trade employees will struggle to find the best remote working opportunities.
5. Businesses continue to cater to workplace trends
Finally,
companies from all backgrounds are beginning to adapt to new work from home
trends. Organisations are helping people to live their best lives as a remote
worker, and we’re seeing the rise of things like 5G connections, coworking
spaces with free internet connections, and more.
There are
even new consultants appearing in the marketplace to help people make their
transition into the remote working lifestyle. People can take online courses to
improve their ability to work flexibly, and you can find countless guides
online for the emerging digital nomad.
This is
particularly helpful for the workers of the future that want to keep earning
money after retirement, but don’t have the energy for a standard 9-to-5 job.
Many baby boomers don’t have enough cash for
retirement today, and remote working gives them the flexibility and high
quality of life that they’re looking for.
It’s time to go remote
The rise of
work from home trends today is evidence that if there was ever a time to go
remote – it’s now. Flexible working offers the part-time schedule and
flexibility that modern employees are looking for, without the downsides like
wearing a suit or dealing with a long commute.
As
employees and employers alike continue to discover the benefits of remote
working, we’re sure to see numbers of flexible employees rise in the year
ahead.
Need help
supporting your remote workers? Contact Nice Network today to see what we can do for
you.