Why Remote Work Is Here to Stay

Much like a pebble disrupting a pond, the 2020 pandemic has and will continue to have lasting effects. One of the ongoing “rings” is the effect on the global business community and how we do work. Industry aside, companies large and small have been forced to break patterns, and there has been a fundamental shift in how companies allow employees to work. While remote work may have been a controversial request from employees a few years ago, many are now demanding this level of flexibility. 

From attracting talent to retaining existing employees, how companies answer this demand will largely determine their success. According to a Gartner survey consisting of company leaders, 80% plan to allow employees to work at least part of the time after the pandemic remotely, and 47% will enable employees to work from home full-time. In a recent FlexJobs survey, 65% of respondents reported wanting to be full-time remote employees post-pandemic, and 31% want a hybrid remote work environment—that’s 96% who desire some form of remote work.

Tech giants like Apple have proposed a new work schedule that requires employees to return to the office three times a week following the pandemic, a policy that’s met with strong pushback from employees. Apple has the luxury of being behind the times, but companies without a global brand must stay ahead of the curve and prepare for the inevitable.  

Ping Pong tables, bean bag chairs, and beer on-tap are headed the same direction as cassette tapes, pagers, and cable television. Remote work is here to stay. Something magical comes when technology and the demand for a progressive work culture result in real innovation. 

As thought leader Diogo Machado said so well, “(For employees) remote work is a bridge to a higher quality of life; being able to live where they want, spend more time with people they choose and have time to do what they love.”