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.