The way we work is changing drastically. With technology becoming more accessible and work being digitized and automated, more and more employees are opting to work remotely or in a hybrid fashion. This shift in the way we work has opened up numerous possibilities, from AI providing HR and IT answers on a 24/7 basis to virtual reality headsets enabling organisations to hold immersive brainstorming sessions for teams that are not located together. However, it has also caused some difficulties, such as the rigid 3-2 model of three days spent in the office and two days at home, which can be detrimental to productivity. In this article, we will examine the advantages, challenges, and projected impact of remote and hybrid working in greater detail.
The most obvious advantage of remote and hybrid working is that technology is becoming more accessible. With more and more devices available at lower prices, it is now easier than ever to access the tools needed to work remotely. This includes laptops, smartphones, tablets, and other devices that can be used to access the internet, store and share files, and communicate with colleagues. Additionally, the digitization and automation of work has enabled employees to work more efficiently from home or in a hybrid fashion without having to worry about manual tasks such as filing paperwork or entering data into a database. This means that employees can focus on the tasks that require their skill set and expertise, allowing them to work more productively. Furthermore, AI and virtual reality (VR) have opened up new opportunities for remote and hybrid working. AI can provide employees with HR or IT answers on a 24/7 basis, while VR headsets can enable organisations to hold immersive brainstorming sessions for teams that are not located together. This allows employees to collaborate remotely while still feeling like they are part of the team.
While there are numerous advantages associated with remote and hybrid working, there are also some challenges that need to be considered. One of the biggest challenges is the rigid 3-2 model of three days spent in the office and two days at home. This model can be detrimental to productivity as employees may not be able to fully concentrate on their work if they are constantly switching between locations. Additionally, this model could lead to feelings of isolation for those who are working remotely as they may not feel as connected to their colleagues or the organisation as those who are physically present in the office. Another challenge of remote and hybrid working is that with more applications being hosted elsewhere, optimizing the PC is becoming less necessary. This means that employees may not have access to the same level of computing power that they would have if they were using a desktop computer in the office. Additionally, this could lead to technical issues such as slow loading times or lag when using certain applications which could impact productivity.
Research conducted by Gartner suggests that within the next five years 64% of employees will have the ability to work remotely or in a hybrid fashion. This suggests that organisations will be increasingly open to giving their employees the option to choose how they want to work, allowing them to find a balance between working from home and going into the office. Furthermore, it is projected that by 2023 almost half of knowledge workers will have the option to be either hybrid or fully remote. This suggests that organisations will be increasingly open to allowing knowledge workers to choose how they want to work, giving them greater flexibility when it comes to their job roles. This could lead to higher levels of job satisfaction among knowledge workers as they will be able to find a balance between their work life and personal life.
In conclusion, remote and hybrid working has both advantages and challenges associated with it but it is clear that its impact on how we work is set to increase in the coming years. With technology becoming more accessible and organisations becoming increasingly open to giving their employees the option to choose how they want to work, it is estimated that within five years 64% of employees will have the ability to do so and by 2023 almost half of knowledge workers will have this option available to them as well. While there may be some difficulties associated with remote and hybrid working such as the rigid 3-2 model or technical issues due to optimization problems, overall it is likely that this shift in the way we work will bring many benefits in terms of productivity, job satisfaction, employee engagement and morale, cost savings for businesses, environmental benefits due to reduced travel requirements, increased flexibility for employees in terms of hours worked, and improved communication between remote teams in the future. Companies must be aware though that there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to remote or hybrid working – each organisation needs to find its own balance between what is best for its business objectives, its people, and its culture in order for it to succeed in this new type of working environment.
