Why remote work is here to stay
If you’re still asking yourself why remote work is here to stay, it’s time to make a nod to what’s being termed “the new normal.”
From the Great Resignation (or the Great Reassessment, or the Great Reset, depending on who is speaking) to the ever-evolving remote work landscape, “new normal” appears to be the term for reimagining how we live and work in the modern era.
While the events of the past two years surely ushered in some parts of this current redesign, our new business paradigm was already heading in the direction of a virtual office setup due, in part, to the easy accessibility of video conferencing.
To date, some 16% of companies are fully remote globally.
What is remote work?
Many companies have been flummoxed by the remote work trend, lamenting the days when employees came in and punched a clock before sitting at an office desk. Spurred on by the current staffing shortage, they’ve tried to lure employees back into the office with corporate shindigs and raises.
However, the move to entice employees back hasn’t worked all that well. That’s left many business owners scratching their heads and wondering what to do next.
Here’s a suggestion: Moving forward, they could ask themselves, “What is remote work?” and seriously consider how employees working from home can benefit the company more than those working in the traditional office model.
The traditional office should embrace the new normal
Some workers have happily re-entered the office again, citing loss of social interaction as their motive. According to Owl Labs, 32% of surveyed workers stated they would quit their job if they were not able to continue working remotely.
Contrary to what some business owners think, this sentiment is not wholly a bad thing. In fact, it can even work in their favor—if harnessed correctly.
Home office versus long commute
The option to work remotely existed prior to 2020, but sadly, very few people had the choice, as only 6% of workers held a remote job back then. Interestingly, three-quarters of employees had never even worked from home at that time.
This was partly because employers preferred a traditional office setup. Very few companies relied on cloud infrastructure to operate.
In 2022, however, the trend toward working from home shows no signs of slowing down. Indeed, the ability to set up a personalized, efficient home office and avoid endless morning and evening commutes are more desirable than ever for many workers.
To put the latter benefit into perspective, studies indicated that once remote work entered the corporate work structure, commuting time was reduced by 62.4 million hours per day.
Bosses who understand why remote work is here to stay—and the reasons why employees want to work from home—can benefit greatly. Here’s an example: When Spotify allowed its 6,500 employees to become partially or fully remote, their turnover rate dropped significantly.
Another reason why remote work is here to stay
If employers are worried about productivity, they could be worrying needlessly.
The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics at the University of Chicago surveyed 10,000 employees who thought they were just as productive at home as in the office.
“In fact, 30% of those (study) respondents told researchers they were more productive and engaged working from home.” –Apollo Technical
Talk about the potential for a major increase in output!
Due to the many advantages of working remotely, there is very little chance that the trend will abate or sputter out.
So instead of wondering why remote work is here to stay, a better approach is to ask, “What is remote work, and how can I harness it?”
Redefine the question, “What is remote work?”
When Spotify implemented its “Work From Anywhere” policy, it allowed employees to decide how often they worked in the office and where they worked, so long as the company had a business operating in the area. A year after its policy was enacted, Spotify experienced lower turnover rates than in the previous two years.
They examined and even redefined elements of the remote work phenomenon and made it work for them.
The perks of working remotely for employers
While there are numerous benefits for employees, working remotely helps accounting firms and small to moderate-sized business owners as well.
Outside of reducing the overhead costs of renting office space and paying for utilities, top advantages include:
- Ability to hire globally: Employers are no longer limited to hiring locally, increasing talent access.
- Data security: Cloud environments offer the kind of document protection that a business usually can’t achieve alone.
- Increased efficiency: The proper integration of cloud services and apps can assist a small business or firm in creating a pipeline that helps employees work faster and smarter.
Other top benefits of remote work for employers include:
- Enhanced flexibility: Some employees will thrive in the hybrid model and won’t mind an occasional commute because they also enjoy the social interaction that an office environment provides.
- Better work-life balance: Employers and staff can enjoy an enhanced work-life balance due to the increased time and money a remote work business model provides.
- Increased opportunities for disabled workers: Talented people with autoimmune disorders or who may have difficulty accessing traditional workspaces can thrive in a remote work environment.
- Easier scheduling for parents, caregivers and working students: People with parental or caregiving duties, or those who are pursuing higher education, can more easily schedule their obligations, making their time at work more focused and productive.
As an employer, when you ask yourself, “What is remote work?” you can flesh out a remote or hybrid model option that’s best for you and your employees.
Cloud-based automation supports remote work structure
Modern firms increasingly rely on a cloud-based structure to run their businesses. In today’s current work environment, remote working requires a cloud platform.
For this reason, cloud hosting is no longer a luxury but a necessity for business.
Why?
- Security: I know I already mentioned security, but it bears repeating. Unprotected computing devices like laptops, desktops and tablets can leave your precious data vulnerable to threats and cyberattacks.
- Mobility: When you or your team must travel on business, you’ll have an easy-to-access remote office you can take with you and log into anywhere.
- Utility: A traditional office-to-home office transfer can be smooth when remote teams utilize company-specific apps and devices.
These elements alone make an investment in cloud infrastructure well worth consideration for any contemporary firm or business. And again, it’s really a necessity in today’s work environment.
Cloud hosting for business is also here to stay
History has taught us that those who resist change are destined to become relics of the past. Humans are progressive creatures; we will always adapt and evolve towards the bigger, brighter thing.
In a business where data is exchanged or held, sticking to traditional methodologies will leave you less secure—something today’s sophisticated hackers will take advantage of.
If you’re using outmoded storage systems to cache data and client information, your data may especially be at risk.
Don’t get left behind
Invest in your firm’s future by investigating cloud-based solutions for your firm or small business. Not only will it help your remote workers do their jobs, but it will also increase consumer confidence in your brand.
Right Networks offers the most innovative and comprehensive cloud-based tools for accounting firms. More than 8,000 accounting firms and 60,000 businesses trust Right Networks to securely host their data in our state-of-the-art data centers.
Rely on a frontrunner in the accounting and cloud hosting space to secure your company data and bring your business up to speed.
For more information on how to get your employees’ home offices set up with reliable cloud hosting services, contact Right Networks today.