Remote, the #newnormal: Has the pandemic been an accelerator?
2020 set its own rules, and companies far & beyond gave in to the new norm. This begs the question — “Did we need a pandemic to tell us the high grounds of remote?”
Back in 2001, when broadband connections emerged as a speedy replacement for dial-up, it spiked interest in remote work. Again, in 2011, America had a meltdown after the 9/11 tragedy as several government offices were coerced into remote. Following this, came a statement from Congressman Tom Davis where he expressed his concern, at a committee hearing, over the lack of telework opportunities in the “post-9/11 world.” (Source: Forbes). On the other side, rapid earthquakes in New Zealand and neighboring countries raised the need for change. This time, several government agencies fully transitioned to remote.
COVID-19 created a snowball effect. The crisis altered the landscape for talent hiring and daily business operations. While companies shunning in-office work seemed like a spike that was likely to see a decline once the pandemic abated, the trend lingered even as the economy reopened.
#1 People looking for roles outside the traditional office setting know remote is no more a needle in a haystack. The pandemic has pushed job searches for remote work by 460% in the two years through June 2021. (Source: CNBC)
#2 Businesses have gotten creative in ensuring productivity anywhere model. 90% of businesses require remote workers to attend cybersecurity training to reinforce secure work-at-home situations. (Source: Open VPN)
#3 The tectonic shift affected all sectors of the economy, including traditionally labeled “blue collar” and “white collar” professions. In America alone, 58% of workers, sector-wide, have the opportunity to work from home at least one day a week. (Source: McKinsey)
#4 Perks have a staying power. 79% of office goers cited easter eggs like no commute as the reason why they have a better work life balance today. (Source: Flexjobs)
More fast facts
- Remote workers score higher on the Workforce Happiness Index. (Source: SurveyMonkey)
- 25% of people love the fact that they can do a work-travel combination with remote. (Source: Buffer)
- 62% of remote workers say they feel more collaborative and report stronger team dynamics with a chance for innovation. (Source: NewsWire)
With an eye on the future, companies are willingly keeping employees at home. Remote work opportunities provide continuity in operational plans. In today’s context, it’s the most sustainable means of survival for companies who believe in a long term plan.
Job-seekers are flocking to remote roles, with the maximum transition seen in customer service, tech, and marketing. Safe to say, telework is becoming an integral piece of companies’ crisis preparedness and response plans.
A bright example:
The world’s giants have no immediate plans to return to the office. Google, Uber, Facebook, Zillow, Twitter, Square, and other mega names have already announced that employees are free to work from home, or anywhere with an internet connection.
In conclusion, the pandemic has reshaped our view of how work should work in the 21st century. The new paradigm will presumably speed up and the world will see the transition for generations to come.
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