During the pandemic, the world seeming stopped for a good few months. People were figuring out how to function in isolation. New processes had to be created, with new routines, and new schedules. The workforce was drastically affected by it. Then came the rise of remote work. Traditional office jobs were carried over to work-from-home setups to keep up productivity despite everyone being isolated. And now, two years in the new normal, remote work has come to stay.
A Technological Revolution
Thankfully for humankind, we now have access to high-speed internet and tools to keep us working in a remote setting. Our interconnectivity has shattered geographical boundaries, and the more people see that working remotely is feasible, the more companies are transitioning to a hybrid or completely remote setup for workers. Video-conferencing software, collaborative websites, and project management tools have bridged the physical gap between our team members all over the world.
The Pursuit of Work-Life Balance
Before the pandemic, most workers had to juggle working in an office and inserting commute time, costs, and food into their daily budget. As a result, the traditional 9-to-5 office grind often posed a challenge to maintain our work-life balance. But now, remote work has granted us the freedom to design our workdays and get more time for personal obligations, family, and hobbies. This lets us have more job satisfaction and lessens burnout.
Tapping into a Global Talent Pool
Companies are no longer constrained by the local talent pool. Now, we can work for companies the world over. If we can’t find a local business that is right for our skills, we can look online for the best jobs. Remote work allows organizations to tap into our diverse range of talents not minding the geographical locations. This helps us create a global network of creativity and innovation.
Reduced Overhead Costs
Of course, this is the biggest benefit for employers. People working in the office means more overhead costs, more office space to rent, higher electricity bills, and other miscellaneous business expenses. But when we work from home, the company saves a lot more in all these expenses and channels those savings to better employee benefits or bonuses for us.
Environmental Impact and Sustainability
The rise of remote work also had a positive environmental impact. Fewer people use their cars on a daily basis to drive to the office. There is less traffic congestion, less air pollution, and less carbon emissions. This lucky consequence aligns with the global push for sustainability.
The Rise of Remote Work Gives Us So Much More
Working remotely gives us our lives back. We have more time to spend with family and friends, discover new hobbies, and focus on ourselves. The benefits outweigh the cons by a lot. However, people can feel isolated sometimes, when they don’t see their workmates face-to-face. But we can always channel our isolation to building more meaningful workplace friendships through our communication tools. With the rise of remote work, we have the working world at our feet. It is truly one of the few good things that have come out of the pandemic.