Although several companies have had to temporarily move to a distributed workforce, it is likely that this period of time will transform the way we work indefinitely.
Businesses have found that employees that are working from home have benefited from the convenience of being home and having a more flexible schedule to care for children. Companies also noted that workers seem more productive at this time.
“The realities of working remotely have destroyed many of the myths,” said Robert Smith, chairman of the board for JobsOhio.
Once the dust has settled, it is likely that workers will request more flexible schedules moving forward.
While some companies are still reluctant to adopt remote working policies in the long run, it is clear that many will be more open to flexible arrangements.
“It doesn’t have to be all or nothing,” said Ian Friedman, a partner at law firm Friedman & Nemecek. “It could be something where you go into the office when you need to, and work from home when you don’t.”
Not only does remote working boost productivity and satisfaction of workers, but companies benefit as well due to workers being able to focus on their tasks rather than attending unnecessary meetings. Additionally, they can cut overhead costs by using less office space and stop paying for underutilized space.