With the pandemic ravaging the world, the concept of remote work has become more integrated and ingrained in modern society. The current pandemic has forced organizations and businesses to rely more on technology and the use of remote work to keep businesses afloat. The pandemic has shown us that digitalization and remote work are essential for organizations to stay competitive if they want to survive, making remote work indisputably part of the future of work. This article looks at the current state of remote work in USA businesses and explores the future of remote work as businesses try to come to terms with the new post-pandemic world.
Existing Remote Work Situation in USA
The pandemic has forced organizations and businesses to embrace the use of remote work. According to a 2020 Stanford report, almost half of all private-sector jobs in the United States are done remotely. The report further revealed that work arrangements involving remote work account for a third of all U.S. jobs, a figure that was expected to increase further as the pandemic intensified.
COVID-19 has accelerated the shift to remote work in the US, with over a quarter of the population being employed remotely even during pre-pandemic times. The shift towards remote working has been backed by increasing reliance on digital technologies as organizations look to maintain operational continuity as safely as possible.
Benefits of Remote Work for USA Businesses
The current pandemic has forced organizations and businesses to familiarize themselves with remote working. Although the shift to remote work has been amidst difficult circumstances, businesses have generally benefited from remote work:
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Cost Savings: Remote work allows businesses to save significantly on overhead costs associated with having a physical workspace. This is mainly because organizations can do without renting physical office spaces when remote working, which can amount to significant savings in the long run.
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Productivity Gains: Remote work provides businesses with an avenue to further improve the productivity of their personnel. Employees that work remotely usually have more time to focus on work tasks in a distraction free environment, leading to improved productivity.
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Talent Acquisition: Research has shown that remote work gives businesses the ability to access a much larger talent pool. This is due to enhanced flexibility that comes with working with remote resources, as businesses can hire experienced personnel from across the world for job roles.
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Employer Branding: Remote working is more socially accepted than before, and businesses that embrace the concept enjoy improved employer reputation among new talent.
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Reduced Carbon Footprint: Business operations that involve remote work result in reduced carbon footprint because employees can do without commutes to and from work.
Future of Remote Work in USA Businesses
Remote working is at the center of workplace transformations and digital workplace conversations are now commonplace. This is greatly attributed to the fact that many organizations have been forced embrace digital because of the pandemic. As businesses adjust to the ‘new normal’, the future of remote work in USA businesses looks bright and stands to gain the following advantages:
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Improved Digital Infrastructure: Due to the pandemic, businesses have been forced to restrategize and invest heavily in upgrading their digital capabilities. As a result, technological gaps between businesses that have embraced remote working and those that refused to do so are now much more pronounced. This gives remote working a more permanent and universal standing in future workplace settings.
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Flexible Working Schedule: Businesses will switch to more flexible work arrangements so that employees can work from wherever and whenever they wish. Employees enjoy the freedom to work from home on their own schedule and organizations will benefit from improved employee engagement and productivity.
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Advanced Collaboration Tools: Businesses will look for more advanced ways to break down physical barriers and maximize employee collaboration. This is mainly because collaborative interactions are key to driving innovation and creativity, something that cannot be done remotely without improved collaboration tools.
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Improved Remote Hiring Process: With the emergence of digital hiring platforms and strategies, businesses will be able to identify and hire the best talent from across the USA and beyond. By breaking down geographical boundaries, organizations will be able to identify experts from different locations, leading to a more diverse and productive workforce.
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Increased Investment in Cybersecurity: Despite the numerous advantages of remote working, there is still a need for businesses to ensure enhanced security for their data and devices. As a result, businesses will need to invest heavily in advanced cybersecurity measures to ensure organizational data remains secure.
The future of remote work in USA businesses looks promising, with a wide range of advantages expected to be realized in the years ahead. COVID-19 has shown that businesses can stay afloat and experience productivity gains while working remotely and the future will sense increased reliance on digital tools and technologies to make remote work possible. This article has looked at some of the key advantages of remote work and explored the different ways in which businesses can leverage remote work to stay competitive in the years ahead.