Remote worker

Remote work is on the rise. How do people work remotely, why do they work remotely, and what are some common misconceptions about remote working?

Remote work is on the rise.

Although the ability to work from outside a corporate office is feasible for a few decades, remote working is only now becoming mainstream.

You may also have heard the phrase thrown into a casual conversation: "I'm working remotely now!" or "I was able to travel and take my work with me!" Nod as you listen to these people extolling the flexibility of their lifestyles and the benefits they have seen in their professional life because they can work remotely, but you still have a few questions.

What is Remote Work?

Remote working is a style of work that allows professionals to work outside of a traditional office environment.

It is based on the concept that the work does not have to be done in a specific place to be done successfully.

Think of it this way: Instead of commuting to the office every day to work from a designated desk, remote employees can execute their projects and exceed their goals wherever they want.

People have the flexibility to design their days so that their professional and personal lives can be lived to their full potential and coexist peacefully.

There has been a cultural paradigm shift in what society sees as an appropriate workplace - and remote working has made the most of that newfound freedom.

How do people work remotely?

There are many ways people can work remotely.

This is the beauty of remote working: people can choose to work in a way that makes the most sense for their lives.

For example, some people have the ability to work remotely for most of the work week, but have to go to meetings in person at the office one day a week.

On a typical day, these remote employees work from their home offices or nearby cafes and can work from their company's office when needed.

Others rely on coworking spaces to be the places where they can get the job done.

Coworking spaces serve as a hub of productivity, community and technology, providing excellent network connectivity and opportunities to meet others who work in a multitude of industries.

They can be used by people with full-time jobs, freelance careers, and even business owners who wish to rent office space for themselves or their small staff.

It could also be said that coworking spaces are somewhere between a traditional office and a non-traditional workspace, giving you the comfort of working from home and combining it with the professional facilities and networking opportunities you might find in a business environment.

Whether remote employees choose to take advantage of a coworking space in their hometown.

Some remote workers take full advantage of the opportunities offered by a remote working lifestyle.

In addition to being able to set their own schedules so they're able to work whenever they're most productive or creative, some remote employees decide to leave their traditional routines behind and hit the road.

In an effort to open their minds, achieve greater global understanding and expand their professional network into a worldwide community, they take their work remotely to different countries around the world, via work and travel programs or do-it-yourself travel. -you.

Why do people work remotely?

Now that you understand what remote work is and how people make it happen every day, you may be wondering: why?

Why would anyone choose to work outside of an office environment, and better yet, why would their boss let them do it?

There are a multitude of remote working benefits for both employees and employers, ranging from increased productivity to happier, healthier workers.

Let's analyze some of the benefits:

The benefits of remote work for employees

Flexible lifestyle

The most obvious reason people want to work remotely is because it offers them a more flexible lifestyle.

When they don't need to be in an office for a specified amount of time, remote employees can focus on the things that matter to them outside the office.

If a remote worker is also a parent, they have the option to start work earlier in the day so that they can be there when the children come home from school or take a break during the day for a doctor's appointment.

Another scenario could be a remote employee who wants to get further education in their field.

Because they are not subject to a rigorous schedule at a permanent job, a remote employee could take a master's or continuing education course during the day and double their work in the evening, or vice versa.

Benefits on Health and Wellness

Remote employees are significantly less stressed and have higher morale than their counterparts in office.

In a report published by the Royal Society for Public Health in the UK, it was found that the 55% of participants felt more stressed from their commute.

By eliminating the commute and allowing remote employees to work in an environment they feel comfortable in, employers are feeding less stressed employees.

Just take a look at this statistic: According to a 2014 study by PGi, 69% of remote workers reported less absenteeism than non-remote employees.

Workers didn't feel the need to skip work without good reason because they felt involved and focused on their role instead of stressed or pressured.

Happier, healthier employees produce better jobs and feel more committed to their companies.

From this point of view, remote work is only good business.

Renewed passion for your work

Remote employees tend to do their best outside the office.

They are more inspired by their surroundings and can filter out environmental distractions as they see fit.

Indeed, the opportunity to work remotely alone brings a new perspective to the position of remote workers.

They see it as a motivation or reward for their excellent work and are motivated to keep exceeding their goals in order to continue living the lifestyle they have come to love.

The benefits of remote work for employers

Greater productivity

One of the most touted arguments for remote working is the increased productivity that comes with its flexibility.

Remote employees are more likely to engage further in their work, going well beyond their work than employees in the office.

According to the State and Work Productivity Report, 65% of full-time employees believe that working remotely would increase productivity, and their bosses agree.

Two-thirds of the managers who were surveyed reported an increase in overall productivity from their remote employees.

Savings

Remote employees are also great for a company's bottom line.

If a team is fully distributed, companies can see a decrease in overhead from soldthe cost savings like rent and office furniture.

To put learning into perspective, Flexjobs reported that employers can save $ 22,000 per year per remote worker, even if the entire team isn't remote.

Employees involved

In addition to profit margins and more efficient, higher quality work, employers offer remote job opportunities to keep their employees happy and engaged.

Remote working isn't just a flash in the pan for employee engagement - nearly 75% of employees surveyed in one Softchoice study he stated that he would quit his job for someone who offered remote work. This is something that will make employers interested in talent retention listen a little more closely.

Here's another one: in a survey by TINYpulse , remote employees reported being happier than non-remote employees and also felt more valued in their role. ‍

Myths to dispel about Remote work

While remote working is becoming more and more common, it is true that there are still some misconceptions about this style of working. Here are the ones we hear most often:

Communication problems

It is true that remote employees are not present in in-person meetings.

They are not rooted in water-refreshing conversations or happy hour meetings, but they make up for it in their desire to stay connected with the team and be successful in their jobs.

Video calls are the easiest way to hold meetings as a remote employee because it serves as a reminder that both parties are human and allows team members to build virtual relationships.

Since remote employees tend to be self-contained by nature, they also tend to make an extra effort to over-communicate project status, any obstacles they may encounter, and extend congratulations to other team members

Working remotely is the same as working seven days a week

This is a fear of both remote employees and their employers. Employees value working remotely because it gives them the freedom to set their own schedule, not because it allows them to be 24/7.

Employers don't even want remote employees to work nonstop, lest they burn out and lose their passion for their position.

At the beginning of a remote employment contract it is important to establish which hours an employee should expect to be available and which hours of the day are most open to flexibility.

In addition to setting standards for availability, remote teams should set clear expectations on communication and develop messaging channels for their members.

Working remotely is synonymous with not working

We have heard enough of this!

The stereotype of a remote worker is that he stays in bed all day in his pajamas, working once in a while, but not at the same level as someone who goes to the office every day.

We know this is simply not true.

In all the time we spent with remote workers, we saw a variety of styles: those who wake up early in the morning for a hike, shower and hunker down for a day of purposeful creation; and those who get ready for the day as if they were going to an office, smart clothes and all.

What we do know is this: remote workers do things.

How to work remotely

The idea of waking up and living your life in the way that best suits your personal and professional goals, along with your habits and idiosyncrasies seems almost too good to be true.

PS. this way of living is possible for you no matter where you are in life right now.

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