The paradigms of professional work have taken a steep turn towards working “remotely” in recent years. According to Forbes, over 50% of the US population is already working remotely, and this percentage is estimated to grow further in the coming years. So, what does working from a remote location mean?
Remote work basically refers to employees completing their work and shift hours outside the traditional office environment. The benefits of not having to commute to work each day, traveling to different places carrying your work, or simply sitting in the comfort of one’s home and delivering projects, has attracted a vast majority of people. And with traditional employees jumping in on this trend, flexible work arrangements have given the lot a fairly good balance in their professional and personal lives.
The advancement of technology, easy access to information available on digital platforms, and the prospect of saving money with regards to not having to provide vast physical office space, has led to companies encouraging this trend. Further, hiring remote staff offshore has helped several SMEs and MNCs save on business costs. Offshore countries like India, the Philippines, and Argentina, have become top outsourcing remote destinations for organizations and businesses. The year 2019 is likely to not just continue this trend, but also witness a rise in both; remote workers and outsourced remote staff. So let’s have a quick look at the major trends that are likely to take place this year.
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The balance of work life and personal life
Technological advancements have led to easy connectivity among employees. With something as simple as a click of a button, workers are able to communicate and coordinate with each other to get the work done, irrespective of their place of work. Further, the ability to choose one’s own work hours has led to an increase in productivity and creativity, as remote employees no longer feel pressurized. The concept of ‘get the work done’ irrespective of the place or time, has proven to be a motivation among employees.
However, a recently conducted survey also revealed that working remotely has led to some amount of declining mental health among the staff. Over 21% of the remote workforce reported ‘loneliness’ to be one of the major factors affecting their mental health. Although the majority preferred to continue working remotely, they also considered opting to work from office for at least one or two days a week. Addressing these concerns, companies are now encouraging their remote workforce to work from the official site as required. This not only helps the remote employees learn and grow further in their job but will also help them maintain a fruitful work-life balance; a trend which will take a stronghold in 2019.
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Master of ONE
The era of being a “Jack of all trades, master of none” has pretty much come to an end. Organizations are no longer looking to hire talent that falls under a generic pool. Employers are now actively seeking out candidates who possess specific skill sets and technical knowledge. And the more niche the skill, the higher the chances of getting hired! Further, with technology ruling all businesses worldwide, having advanced digital skills is now considered as top priority.
And when it comes to remote staff, being tech-savvy is all the more in demand, as it is the digital platform that is of prime importance in getting any work done. Be it for a basic level entrant or a freelancer, the need for the mastered skill workforce and digitally savvy employees will continue to be the priority in 2019.
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Addressing cybersecurity and employee trust issues
While working remotely certainly has its ups, it sure has a few glitches that employers need to concern themselves with. Provided with no internal technical support, expertise, or in-house benefits, remote employees feel excluded from the workforce and company practices, thus making them a question they’re fair treatment. This, in turn, leads to trust issues among the remote staff. A good way to ensure an employee continues to have faith in the company is to maintain transparency with all their policies. Drafting equal policies for both; in-house staff and remote employees will go a long way in retaining the remote workforce. Further, concentrating on unified cybersecurity policies, equal compensations, and equal pay and promotions is one way to ensure that confidential data remains within the organization and employees remain faithful to the business.
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Increase in training
High attrition rates have led to companies looking into providing better learning and growth opportunities for their staff. With an increase in remote employees, this opportunity has also been extended to this workforce. Micro training and learning are given higher importance to, thus leading to more traction and decreased attrition.
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Advanced remote work solutions
The trend among remote employees is often found to be traveling and adopting a nomadic lifestyle. Recognizing this trend, leading hotel chains around the world are catering to the needs of remote employees. Companies like Selina is one such example, where decent Wi-Fi, dormitory rooms, and co-working spaces, are provided to people who work while they travel. This thus brings the concept of a hybrid work hostel. Fitting in perfectly with the lifestyle of the travel-seeking remote staff, it isn’t just companies, but also hospitality chains that are working towards providing better work solutions for the remote staff.
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Increased millennial workforce and growth of remote work
The global workforce is currently dominated by millennial, and the number is likely to increase in the coming decade. Having grown up in the digital world, the millennial tend to understand technology much better. Further, flexible work hours, comfort, and ample career growth are attracting the next generation of leaders all the more. Organizations across the globe are recognizing the benefits of hiring remotely and are adopting strategies to implement the same. Increased outsourcing is one such example of the garnering interest in remote work.
In sum, the remote workplace has become the way of life for several employers and employees alike, and this trend will continue to increase in the coming years. As for 2019, companies will continue to garner the workforce from a pool of talent in remote locations. So, if you’re looking to switch to remote work, either in your own country or by outsourcing projects to seek remote staff in India, 2019 is the year for you!
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