If you’ve been on the internet lately, you may have noticed a surge in articles, job listings, or social media posts touting the benefits of remote work. Remote work has gained such widespread support in developed countries that it is starting to become the very basis for determining a job’s worth.

What is remote work?

Indeed defines remote work as work arrangements made outside the traditional office and physical spaces. Think of it as working from your laptop, phone, or tablet – anywhere, anytime. So why the buzz? Is remote work that much better than traditional work, or is it just another passing fad?

Productivity

Objectively speaking, when business owners think of remote work their first thought is often the opposite of productivity. They might picture an employee slacking off or on their phone in bed, and while this might have some truth to it, it is often rooted in an inherent bias against “too much” independence. One study conducted on remote work arrangements showed that up to 77% of employees who were switched to remote work felt more productive than they did working in their offices.  Another study conducted by Stanford researchers reported an increase in productivity by up to 13% when the employees switched to remote work arrangements.

Employee retention

In the same Stanford study, switching to remote work increased the retention rate by up to 10%. Naturally, offering remote work arrangements implies a level of trust and confidence in an employee’s skills and their ability to accomplish tasks independently. This autonomy can further influence an employee’s decision to stay with the company.

Ease of Access/Accessibility

During the 2021 lockdowns, a lot of businesses had to close doors and limit physical interaction as much as possible. This was a worst-case scenario for many businesses, especially those that were unwilling or hesitant to switch to remote work. These businesses, unfortunately, suffered great losses that ultimately led to permanent closures for some. On the contrary, businesses that were quick to make the switch took advantage of the situation and raked in profits.
While pandemics aren’t the norm, situations like these serve to show just how much accessibility remote work arrangement offers.

Challenges of Remote Work

While remote work offers many benefits, it’s not without its challenges. For instance, a traditional company that has been accustomed to a physical mode of work could be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of “considerations” it has to address before making the switch, this can be in terms of infrastructure, planning, or budget. 

Another challenge that companies face is a lack of support for their employees when switching to remote work arrangements. If done suddenly without any proper support or planning, this can overburden and overwhelm an employee. Companies that decide to make the transition should also offer comprehensive and personal support to their employees.

We’re proud to share that at PASL, we’ve been 100% remote since 2015 and it has been a game-changer for our company. The good news is our digital transformation service helps your company navigate its way through a fully remote or hybrid work culture using the appropriate technology landscape and strategy. Simply schedule a free discovery call by emailing afriyie@paslglobal.com to discuss all the possibilities.