Remote Working Is Transforming Our Lifestyles

DevOps platform GitLab spent three months surveying professionals from all over the world to see exactly how they adapted to working remotely.

The “Out of the Office: How the world adapted to working remotely in 2020” report compiled responses from 200 professionals.

“The impact of COVID-19 may have accelerated the adoption of remote work for many businesses, but trends towards connectivity and increasingly digital work laid the groundwork for businesses to succeed at pivoting so quickly,” said Sid Sijbrandij, CEO and co-founder of GitLab.

Sijbrandij added that remote working will no longer be viewed as a perk, but as a tool that is shaping lifestyles.

The survey revealed that one-fourth of respondents said having “more time” was the biggest benefit to working remotely. 

Additionally, of the 56% of respondents that first shifted to remote working during the pandemic, only 1% want to return to the office.

Despite vaccines being distributed globally, there is still a blanket of uncertainty that is draped over the future of work. Now, many of these employees who recently shifted to working from anywhere are identifying themselves as “remote workers.” But will this be permanent?

One of the biggest recurring themes in the research was that remote working is transforming our lifestyles. For instance, 37% of respondents stated that they have optimized their lives to spend more time with family, while 30% have prioritized being outdoors and exercising.

“When remote work is embraced as a competitive strategy, work complements life with greater harmony,” said Darren Murph, head of remote at GitLab.