The Importance of Remote Work in a Post-Pandemic World
In 2020, the pandemic forced millions of people to begin working from home. In the years following the initial lockdown, the percentage of workers that are fully remote has been on a steady decline. However, in 2023, approximately 40% of U.S. employees still work remotely at least one day per week. Especially in industries like IT, professional and business services, educational services, and wholesale trade, remote work has become like second nature.
There are remote work opportunities around the U.S., with numbers surpassing those of other countries. Globally, 7.9% of employees are fully remote. Despite these dwindling numbers, the benefits that working from home presents to both employees and their employers are undeniable, and explain why this model is still thriving post-pandemic.
There are several benefits that working remotely presents to workers. No matter the industry, universally, precious time and resources are saved. Because remote work eliminates the need for a commute, many people save on necessities like gas and food. In addition, this schedule allows for greater flexibility. Less time is spent getting ready for the day, which leaves more hours of free time to spend on personal extracurriculars or with family and friends. Some say that a hybrid schedule may also mean fewer meetings during the day, further heightening work/life balance.
Employers also benefit from remote work, as they see greater productivity from employees who have found a renewed sense of motivation at work. Studies have shown that remote work can result in 56% fewer employee absences, and 50% fewer employee sick days. In terms of productivity, businesses have seen a 68% increase. Because of the increased work/life balance in a hybrid or remote business model, overall turnover has decreased as well. Reducing employee churn by 50%, more workers are satisfied with their positions. Finally, adopting this work model has the power to reduce the cost per employee by $20k to $37k annually.
Even in 2023, the vast majority of people say that they want to work remotely at least some or all of the time. In order to make this a reality, businesses must keep their cyber-oriented tools in shape. Connectivity platforms must be working properly, ensuring that employees can communicate no matter where they are. IT tools must be readily available as well, protecting from digital threats and defending the business’ network. Finally, artificial intelligence must be utilized to ensure the business is staying up to date with the latest technological capabilities of our time. Combining these tools will ensure success in this post-pandemic world, permanently adopting some of the side-effects of the lockdown.
