We all inherently know that COVID-19 shifted a tremendous amount of thinking and doing around work, but … how significant is it, really? Fairly significant.
We'll delve into stats around remote employees, as well as the pros and cons of the remote work environment - including the importance of a healthy work-life balance and social interaction for remote teams.
These statistics reveal a tremendous amount about what COVID did to work, where work and remote work might be headed in the future, and considerations and problems we need to address as remote work scales even more globally.
Keep in mind, not all jobs can be done remotely. Yes, some might have the flexibility to provide a hybrid office model, others simply must be done onsite. For example, most restaurant and hospitality roles require being onsite to engage with customers, mechanics have to be in the shop, construction workers at the job site, and most medical professionals, such as doctors and dentists, need to see patients in a traditional office setting.
Productivity generally increases in working from home versus the traditional office environment. More than that, there are benefits for employees as well.
The key to managing drawbacks is understanding where a team may experience challenges so the organization can provide support as needed. Most of the drawbacks are related to communication and the human interaction that a physical office setting provides.
The relationship between gender and working remotely has been tough. Consider one study, exploring data on gender and remote work from 1996 to 2006:
Women in general, but especially working mothers, are found to be working longer hours, with more stress and less flexibility, and quitting their jobs at a higher rate to focus on caring for either children or elderly parents/other family members.
There are a wide range of factors to this seemingly simple question. It will depend on the remote work arrangement, as well as what your ideal job looks like.
If you're unsure, or weighing out your options, one way to get started is to take the free F4S assessment. Users gain instant access to their results. This information will provide key insights into what type of working environment suits you best, as well as the type of projects and tasks that excite you and which ones deplete you.
For example, you might find that you prefer:
Working independently: You'll likely thrive in working from home as you can work in a solo environment and retain your focus.
Thinking outside of the box: You like to do things differently and thrive in roles where you can be creative and innovative. This means it might be challenging for you to accept a role that requires you to follow a lot of rules or complete tasks in a conventional way
Visual learning style: You might struggle if the majority of communication is via email (or reading in general). You'll do best with visual communication tools, including virtual meetings and video calls.
The best way to retain remote employees (as well as traditional employees in an office setting) is by getting to know each individual, as well as overall team preferences.
Why is that so important? Because motivations at work matter. We've spent more than 20 years studying workplace motivations and our research is helping people and teams all over the world find more success and more personal satisfaction.
Managers can get started by taking the free F4S assessment and inviting their team to do the same. Then create a team to understand your unique team culture, communication preferences, and more.
In summary, there’s a nuance around working remotely. Remote work can offer several productivity advantages, including flexibility, reduced distractions, and the ability to establish an ideal work routine. However, it also poses challenges related to isolation, communication, and maintaining work-life balance. Ultimately, the impact of remote work on productivity depends on various factors, including individual work habits, the nature of the job, and the organization's remote work policies and culture. Trust in employees and clear communication and expectations are crucial for remote work to be successful in maintaining or improving productivity - while ensuring employee satisfaction.
Take the free assessment and understand your skills and preferences. Regardless of the outcome, you can develop the skills needed to work remotely and land the job of your dreams.
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Coach Marlee (your amazing AI-powered personal coach) will analyse your unique traits and goals to personalize the program so you see results as quickly as possible.
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Learn how to connect with colleagues and boost workplace motivation.
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