Remote work has become a contentious topic due to concerns about inefficiency and communication. In the years following the Covid-19 pandemic, its implementation has been steadily dropping. Yet at the same time, remote work is as popular as ever. In fact, 98% of people want to work remotely, at least some of the time.
This is a striking statistic due to how divisive remote work is. The next natural question is why is it so divisive and what is the appeal of remote work? There are several answers to this question. The most commonly cited reason for wanting to work remotely is the benefits of having no commute. No commute means less time spent getting ready in the morning as well as less time spent on actually commuting in. Additionally, there are savings in not having to spend money on gas, or other forms of transportation, less wear and tear on your vehicle, and less money spent on eating out for lunch or a morning coffee..
Outside of the commute, remote work also leads to more freedom overall. Remote workers have better schedules on average with less micromanaging. Other small benefits are the quieter work environments, more family time, and fewer meetings. Presented all together, it seems obvious that employees would prefer remote work to in the office. The next question to answer is how the disparity between employee and employer thoughts on remote work can be resolved.
Employers can recognize some benefits that remote work gives to themselves as well. Typically there is a reduction in employee absence and sick days. Another benefit is that employees tend to be more productive and there is less employee churn saving employers not only time but also money. Though there are some roadblocks new tools such as connectivity platforms, AI scheduling software, and IT tools can help make remote work as manageable as working in the office.
