Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many governments around the world introduced strict social distancing measures, and in some cases curfews or complete lockdowns, in an effort to curtail the spread of the virus. As a result of these measures, in order to continue operating, many companies across a variety of sectors were compelled to instruct their staff to work remotely for the foreseeable future.
The status of remote working before the pandemic
Research conducted by Global Workplace Analytics in 2018 suggested that, since 2005, the amount of Americans who regularly work from home has increased by 173%. However, despite 43% of employees having worked from home at times, the 5 million employees who work from home at least half-time still only represent 3.6% of the U.S. employee workforce. This is despite current estimates by Global Workplace Analytics which suggest that, in the U.S., as many as 56% of employees could work remotely at least part of the time.
In most cases, the option of remote working currently tends to be more readily available to managers and other white-collar professionals, while also being more common in larger firms and among those in higher-paid positions. Although still low, there is a noticeably higher prevalence of remote working among private sector employees than is the case for employees of state and local government.
Overall, remote working is still not particularly common in the United States, where only around 7% of companies offer telecommuting options to most or all of their employees. In contrast, in countries such as Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden, the percentage of employees routinely working from home is around 20%. The figures for the U.S. are similar to those for Bulgaria and Cyprus, which have some of the lowest percentages for remote working in the European Union.
A watershed moment for remote working?
For a number of years already, many advocates have attempted to highlight the merits of remote working. A great deal of progress has been made, as the practice has slowly grown in popularity. However, we are still a long way off realizing the full potential of telecommuting.Â
When considering the scale of the technological advances made in the field of telecommunications, particularly over the past two decades, the rise of remote working seems comparatively slow. Some of the main reasons attributed to this missed potential are primarily cultural, both in terms of how traditional companies operate and indeed the public’s own perception. As technology becomes increasingly sophisticated and reliable, the cultural element in the challenges to remote working has become increasingly clear, although surveys would suggest an ever-increasing enthusiasm for telecommuting among employees, across all age groups. With more employees than ever now experiencing remote working due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this could constitute a major turning point in the way that companies will operate going forward.
What benefits can we expect to see?
Firstly, having the option to work remotely is something that an increasing number of employees consider to be extremely valuable. A survey by Softchoice suggested that 74% of the 1,000 office workers who responded would consider moving to a company that allowed for more remote working, even if this did not increase their salary. From the point of view of employees, telecommuting involves significant savings and, in many cases, an increased quality of life.
Statistics also show that companies also stand to gain by offering this flexibility, with higher productivity and employee loyalty. Facilitating remote working also allows more options when seeking to fill positions, as this would theoretically open the door to applicants from anywhere in the world. Companies can also see this as an opportunity to make savings by reducing their office space requirements.
Finally, it is worth considering some of the other benefits which could result from an increase in remote working. One such example would be a reduction in congestion and environmental damage, as only those whose occupations are not compatible with remote working would be required to commute. The rise of telecommuting could also offer opportunities for the regeneration of many smaller towns and villages, as many employees would no longer be willing to pay a premium in order to live within a practical commuting distance from major urban centers.Â
It is highly possible that, as a result of the temporary rise in remote working due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we could be on the verge of a significant and long-lasting shift in how many companies function. The interest in remote working among both employees and their employers has been growing steadily for some time, however, the current crisis will likely play a major role in accelerating that process.
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