Remote work is here to stay – and numbers will increase even further

As the world moves on from lockdown restrictions and the impact of the pandemic gradually lessens, one aspect that seems sure to stay is remote working. Many corporate jobs are now fully remote or hybrid whilst freelancers are enjoying a ‘work from anywhere’ lifestyle. 

Whilst some workers still choose to frequent the office as it benefits their working relationships, their mental health and offers a much-needed social aspect of their role, others are preferring to take advantage of working from home full-time. 

With most Australian workers spending at least some of their working week at home, we’ll explore the benefits of remote working in today’s modern world. 

More autonomy

Managing your own workload gives you greater control over parts of your job that you may not have had otherwise, allowing for increased job satisfaction and that bit of extra freedom. 

Working from home often means less immediate access to other team members or senior staff, resulting in you having to figure out problems yourself and using your own initiative. Whilst this can be a challenge for some, many will thrive in an environment where they feel they have a bigger say over their role. 

Less commuting

The lack of commute can mean you start your working day feeling refreshed, rather than frazzled. It also means you’re less likely to be late to your desk or have to make up the time in the evening. Plus, with the ever-increasing fuel costs, this could end up saving you a penny or too as well. 

More work-life balance

Reduced commuting means a better work-life balance. Whether this is spending more time with the family, getting a run in at lunch or doing the school drop-offs, not having your working day take over every part of your life is a definite, positive outcome. 

No need for office space

Employers can relish not having to source and manage suitable office space whilst, as a worker, you can enjoy leaving all your items in one place, without the need to transport laptops and other equipment on a train or bus every day. 

Some of the most common remote jobs

Some popular work-from-home jobs include writing, consulting, coding and CFD trading as these are all easily done remotely, from just about anywhere in the world. The advancement of technology has led to greater online platforms from which to work and interact, meaning there are now hundreds of roles that can be carried out successfully from home. 

Remote working challenges

Whilst there are a variety of benefits to working from home, there are also numerous challenges both from an employer’s and employee’s point of view.

Data safety

Working remotely can mean extra controls are needed to protect personal and workplace data on company laptops. Employers and workers should ensure measures are in place to maximise security, especially when employees are working in environment with no immediate access to tech support teams. 

Company culture

With teams working from home, it can be difficult to create a sense of culture within an organisation. If workers feel excluded from social elements of a role, it can be easy to become disengaged with the overall ethos. 

Managing employees

Employers can often find it difficult to properly manage workers when not in person. Similarly, some employees might struggle to raise issues with senior staff with the increased distance and separation. However, making use of technology and tools such as team chats and digital meetings can help to combat this.