The number of people that are working from home has been on the rise for years now, and the recent pandemic may have pressed the fast-forward button on this trend.
With millions of people working from home these days, it is worth asking the question – is working from home our new reality? And how do people and companies feel about it?
People value the freedom of choice
It’s no secret that people value freedom of choice. A whopping 98% of people would like to have the option to work remotely for the rest of their careers.
Aside from working in sweatpants, what are the things people like about working from home?
A flexible schedule, the ability to work from any location, and no more commuting were the top reported benefits.
Of course, not everything is positive about working from home. Here are some of the challenges people face as they work remotely.
Top struggles of remote workers:
- Collaboration and communication
- Loneliness
- Unplugging after work
- Distractions
- Staying motivated
The top issue faced by remote workers was “unplugging” from work. Without the clear-cut change of location and defined office hours, many people had a tougher time clearly dividing their personal and professional time.
Implementing a Remote Work Policy
Despite the popularity of remote and flexible working, not every company has embraced the concept. Here are some of the reasons why.
Managers are worried that productivity and focus will be diminished if people are working in more informal locations, such as home or a cafe. Also, if people aren’t working in the same physical location, managers feel that team cohesiveness and company culture could suffer.
Location flexibility – the ultimate advantage?
Companies that won’t embrace flexible working may find themselves at a disadvantage when recruiting new talent. Nearly two-thirds of candidates say that having a choice of work location is a key consideration in choosing an employer.
