By now the remote and hybrid work models are more than just emerging trends – they’re becoming the norm for many companies around the world. With more and more businesses jumping ship every day and opting for a partially virtual workplace, it’s time to re-assess the current way of working through this lens.
Remote work has been on the rise for several years now, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. As such, in this article we’re going to focus on what the workplace could look like if things continue as they are right now. Join us as we explore some of the remote work trends that will define and shape the world of business beyond our current definitions.
The current situation
It’s no secret that many employers have had their hands forced into implementing remote work policies due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, employees have had a chance to see if the grass is greener on the other side – if working from home was the idyllic reality it was made out to be.
For many, this has indeed proved to be the case. A recent survey from GitLab was very revealing, as 52% of those currently working remotely would consider leaving their co-located company for a fully remote position. When over half of the workforce thinks that remote work is in their future, it’s going to be increasingly difficult for employers to convince top talent otherwise.
As such, we may well see a change in direction for many companies going forward. For example, when head-hunting and searching for talent to fill vacant roles, companies will have to consider the allure of remote and hybrid work. Deny the possibility to work, at least some of the time, from home and the talent could well seek alternative options.
1. The hybrid compromise
Not every business can accommodate a fully remote work model. It can require a lot of resources to re-train every employee from home, and overhaul systems so that they could all be accessed virtually.
Plus, many business owners are cognizant of the fact that when working out of office, employees have no in-person supervision, no face-to-face meetings, and a lack of socialization with their coworkers. This lack of social connection can have a knock-on effect on employees’ productivity levels, but also their sense of wellbeing. Employee burnout could be more of an issue in a remote work environment where support is limited to a screen, and the casual conversations of the water cooler are no more.
There are workarounds to these problems, though. Remote employee monitoring software helps boost accountability and maintain productivity, while employers are becoming more creative when it comes to instilling a social dynamic through virtual quizzes, desk photo updates, and more.
More commonly, though, business owners aren’t jumping in at the end, but taking a softer approach. Industry giants like Apple and Google are paving the way in this regard. Both companies, along with several others such as Spotify and Shopify are adopting hybrid work models.
In a hybrid work model, employees are only asked to come into the office for three or four days a week, spending the rest of the time working from home. This level of compromise suits both the employer and employees in many ways, so it could well be a growing remote work trend we see a lot more examples of in future.
2. The expansion of hiring horizons
Another remote work trend is the expansion of hiring horizons, which is to say, companies are casting a wider net when on the lookout for top talent. No longer are they confined to local or national talent pools – the global workforce is now open for business.
It’s no longer uncommon to seek out talent on other sides of the globe, especially since many top professionals are leaving their positions to go freelance and enjoy the flexibility that work style brings. The evidence backs this up too: more than half of tech jobs posted by companies on the West Coast invite applications from outside the West Coast.
As such, we’re likely to see many more multicultural workplaces in future, comprising professionals from all over the world. There may also be more accommodations made for significant time differences, so that location won’t hinder an employee’s ability to be an important part of the team.
3. Coworking havens
In coming years, we may see a shift in emphasis from the traditional office space to modern coworking havens. These coworking spaces will allow employees to enjoy some of the benefits of having a shared in-person workplace while also enjoying the autonomy to work from home some of the time.
Coworking spaces are no new concept – they’ve been growing in popularity in recent years to coincide with the new type of working professional: the digital nomad. Cafe chains such as Starbucks cater to the modern employee who wants to work away from home, but still have certain comforts you wouldn’t find in most offices.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported on flexible-office operator IWG PLC declaring that it would be investing a sum of around $350 million on a joint-venture with Instant Group to create an online marketplace for ‘flexible office space’. The most obvious comparison is with AirBnB, except this would be for those looking to work while traveling rather than relax.
Final thoughts
It’s wise to assess the current state of remote work, with a view to the future, so that you can keep pace with your competitors. If you want to attract top talent in the coming years, you may want to dip into the global market, offer the option to work several days from home, or provide some form of flexible coworking space.