Current predictions state that 70 percent of the workforce will work remotely at least five days per month by 2025. We’ve already seen what impact this is having on employees, businesses, and the economy — but now let’s turn our attention to how things may continue to change in the future.
Remote Workers Are More Productive
Compared to office workers, remote employees are more productive. This is down to several reasons, including that employees like working remotely, they’re willing to work more hours, and they often find it easier to collaborate.
Shorter Workweeks
An idea more employers are now exploring is the four-day workweek. Higher productivity from remote work has allowed this to become a possibility — plus, a shorter workweek has the added bonus of improving employee motivation even more.
Shrinking Office Sizes
Businesses where many employees are able to work from home at least a few days a week need far less office space. Many companies are not dropping the office entirely, as they intend to use a hybrid model going forward, but even this means serious cost savings.
Cybersecurity Is Ever More Important
Not everything about the future of remote work is positive: there are also some challenges business owners will need to face. A big one is cybersecurity. Employees will be using their own networks and devices, which may not be completely secure, and cyberattacks are on the rise.
Tools and Software Will Develop to Keep Up
Businesses won’t need to face the challenges of remote work alone. We can expect to see new tech solutions that improve remote work, including for communication, mobile collaboration, and managing teams.
City Exodus
Those who never need to come into the office are moving out of cities to locations where living is cheaper. Some are even taking it a step further, embracing the digital nomad lifestyle, where they move from place to place as they choose. For many workers the only requirement is a reliable internet connection.
Coworking Spaces Are Here to Stay
Although coworking spaces naturally fell out of favor during the pandemic, they are likely to make a comeback. After all, they provide a place for workers to collaborate in person if a business drops its office completely and they offer a professional-feeling space for freelancers to focus and find inspiration.
The Ability to Engage Will Set Employees Apart
Those who succeed at remote working and receive promotions to leadership positions will be those who put in the effort to participate. They will be active in meetings, stand out at virtual events, and maintain a positive attitude in all their communication.
Download our free infographic for a summary of what the future of remote work looks like. The infographic contains a number of up-to-date facts and figures about things like where remote workers are the most productive, how many businesses already allow employees to work remotely, and how you can succeed with remote work.
