Trusting Remote Workers: The New Normal

Trusting Remote Workers: The New Normal

As of 2019, 1 in 10 Americans worked from home at least once per week ─ BUT, with Covid-19 rapidly shutting down businesses across the world, more workplaces are sending their employees home indefinitely

Americans Are Increasingly Working Remotely

• Why Remote Work is So Valued
  • Compared to working in a traditional office setting:
    • 91% experienced better work-life balance
    • 79% increased their productivity and focus
    • 78% felt reduced stress
• As of 2018:
  • 57% had a flexible schedule
  • 29% could work from home
  • 25% sometimes worked from home

BUT with the spread of COVID-19, millions more are working from home than ever before out of necessity

• A Lasting Trend
  • “The coronavirus is going to be a tipping point. We plodded along at about 10% growth a year for the last 10 years, but I foresee that this is going to really accelerate the trend” – Kate Lister, President of Global Workplace Analytics

Employers See Benefits, Too

Remote makes your workplace more desirable ㄧ 77% would be more likely to accept a position if it offered the ability to at least occasionally work from home

• Access to Larger Pool of Potential Employees
  • Giving employees the ability to work from home means you can hire outside of the normal commuting distance
  • For areas with skill shortages, widening their nets may be particularly beneficial
    • Find the best team members, regardless of where they’re based
• Lower Overhead
  • Fewer (or no) people in-office will greatly reduce operating expenses
  • What’s not needed? Equipment, utilities, coffee, and even rent*
• Productivity
  • A 2019 study found that remote working improves productivity by nearly 15%
  • Increased morale positively correlates to the quality of work and productivity
• Boosted Morale
  • Employees with flexible work options enjoy their job more
  • 82% of remote workers feel more trusted by their employer
• BUT, new processes can lead to confusion and problems, including
  • • Managers becoming overzealous and micromanaging
    • Employees try to prove themselves and .end up overworked

As of 2019, only 1 in 3 remote employees received no training on how to work from home — the other 62%  are ready and trained for the future of work

Focus on Trust

Over half of CEOs feel their company’s growth is threatened by a lack of internal trust

• Employees at organizations that value trust feel
  • 106% More energy at work
  • 76% More engaged in tasks
  • 74% Lower stress levels
  • 40% Less likelihood of burnout
  • 29% Higher overall life satisfaction
• How Can Employers Show Trust?

People need a clear direction and leaders can provide the resources needed to accomplish their task

• • Encourage Self-Direction
    • A 2014 study found that nearly half of employees would give up a 20% raise for greater control over how they work
  • Allow for Achievement
    • 76% reported their best work days are when they make progress on goals
  • Be Transparent
    • A 2015 study found that workplace engagement improved with daily communication from team leaders

Because of the coronavirus outbreak, 67% of employers are actively ensuring that jobs previously in-office are done from home

• Americans Are Ready For The Future of Work
  • 78% feel they will be healthier working from home
  • 53% believe that working from home will have a positive impact on their life

Studies* have shown that allowing your team greater autonomy enhances productivity

*Harvard Business Review

With an emphasis on trust, any remote team can survive and thrive.

Sources:

https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/survey-flexible-work-job-choices/

https://www.gallup.com/services/182138/state-american-manager.aspx

https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/pros-cons-of-working-from-home

https://hbr.org/2019/08/is-it-time-to-let-employees-work-from-anywhere

https://hbr.org/2011/05/the-power-of-small-wins

https://www.seyfarth.com/news-insights/covid-19-employer-flash-survey-results.html

https://www.owllabs.com/state-of-remote-work/2019?hs_preview=jWDXIXgj-13385250578

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/23/what-coronavirus-means-for-the-future-of-work-from-home.html