In 2020, a global pandemic forced us to learn how to handle remote work or risk becoming one of the hundreds of thousands of businesses to shut its doors. At the peak of COVID-19 restrictions, nearly 70% of people were working from home. Now, as life attempts to normalize, one thing seems certain despite so much uncertainty: Remote work is here to stay.
The COVID-19 situation really opened our eyes, leapfrogging us over so many doubts about our ability to do things remotely that were never done before. By force, people became capable of amazing feats, including finding ways to excel in this new environment. We all had no choice but to make the best of the need for remote work, and so,en masse, we did. Now, remote work isn’t going anywhere.
Remote options are popular
Remote work is here to stay due to the simple fact that people like it. A 2020 survey found that 77% of respondents felt they would be happier having the option to work from home, and 80% of full-time workers expected to work from home at least three times a week after COVID-19. Given the current labor shortage, employees will have a much stronger voice in shaping the structure of their work lives.
Even before COVID-19, remote work was already on the rise. Between 2005 and 2019, the number of people working from home increased by 216%, 11 times faster than the rest of the workforce. One study estimates that by 2028, 73% of all departments will have remote workers. A surveyin June 2020 found 73% of employers found remote work to be successful, a number that jumped to 83% the following year. Such overwhelming support for remote options will make sure they stick around.
The tools are increasingly efficient
Along with remote work, the demand inspiring new and more efficient remote tools is unlikely to slow down any time soon. In 2020, over 50% of businesses reported an increase in spending on web conferencing software, collaboration tools, and remote desktop tools. With all this investment, remote tools are only going to get better at keeping us connected.
With high-speed broadband powering increasingly efficient tools that facilitate crystal clear communication, we have more options than ever before in how we spend time with the people we love. Growing up, our kids only saw what Grandma looked like when we went to visit, but now, my brother, sister, and I see my mom much more often. Even a busy CEO like me can see their grandson every week, no matter where they are, because remote tools are making those connections easier.
Save time, feel better
Remote work is alive and adaptable, which allows for greater balance in workers’ lives. A 2017 report estimated that half-time telecommuters save 11 days a year by not traveling to work. People can invest that saved time into their families and wellness - a new definition of work-life balance. In 2018, one study showed 86% of people felt the flexibility to work from home reduces stress, and 77% said it allows for greater overall improvements in their general health.
Beyond time, remote work brings in other savings as well. One poll of technology professionals found that 37% would even take a 10% pay cut if they could work from home, and nearly six out of 10 employers named cost savings as one of the top benefits of telecommuting. The average savings in real estate costs alone of one full-time telework employee is $10,000 per year. Saving money and real estate space, not to mention your carbon footprint, is in everyone’s best interest.
Explore a new world of opportunities
The world of remote work is truly a world of opportunities and challenges all its own. People can work from anywhere, so you can recruit new talent from anywhere. You can also compete from anywhere and find opportunities anywhere. Your place becomes wherever you want it to be.
The speed of broadband is accelerating our standards of “being better” and spreading them across greater distances. Now, you can have more equal opportunities living in the suburbs without having to commute to the city. With equal access to high-speed broadband, quality jobs can be available anywhere you are, and remote learning can equalize education in every school district.
With high-speed broadband and improving remote tools equalizing opportunities from anywhere, we may soon see the rebirth of communities. Add in the back-and-forth infrastructure of transportation technology, and people can spend more time closer to their families and still come downtown to fill the stadiums. As long as you have access to high-quality internet, you can be competitive wherever you are. It’s a game of choice, and we now have more choices than ever.
