For the average employee, remote work is something which makes life convenient and easy. In fact, 98% of people say they want to work remotely, at least some of the time. Surprisingly then, the percentage of people working remotely has been steadily dropping since the pandemic. Why?
The answer seems to be that employers are much more skeptical. These doubts are raised primarily by one distinct issue. Employers are worried that people working remotely will lead to lazier and less efficient employees.. The reality around this situation is much more complex.
Some studies have found the exact opposite of this, that remote workers are more efficient. Yet others have found no difference, and others yet have found that remote workers are in fact more inefficient. The important variable is where and how remote work is being implemented.
After all, some industries are better suited for remote work than others. A strong employer in a tech industry will likely find remote work can be a great positive. Yet a weak employer who lazily introduces remote work to a service industry may find the opposite. The reality of remote work is that it takes collaboration.
So for any employers considering implementing remote work, do some research. There are countless ways to incorporate remote work. Figuring out what works not only for one’s industry, but one’s exact business, is the issue needing solving. The question of if remote work is effective overall is not only unimportant but impossible to answer.
