The decade might not have a good start, as we all were trapped inside our houses. But it continues to get better, with positive results pouring in from all over the world. Well, life doesn’t stop even during a pandemic, right? And that’s exactly what happened this time.
COVID-19 might have shaken our mental and physical well-being. However, for industries, it simply opened a range of opportunities. One of them, obviously, is the work-from-home, remote, or work from anywhere trends—whatever you name it.
So, if you are keen to know what trends are catching on in 2024, this article is your ultimate savior. Keep reading to discover some amazing stuff.
10 Remote Working Trends In 2024 That Are Worth Knowing
Remote work trends are favorable for any industry that adopts them early. A Global Workplace Analytics revealed how one-third of remote employees prefer a 10% pay deduction over onsite jobs. Gen Z employees are increasing in number, which is why remote jobs have to exist. Here are some common trends we’ll be witnessing:
Greater need for flexibility
It’s a history when employees thought nothing but reaching work and were of utmost dedication. At present, the workforce is more focused on flexibility and freedom. However, that doesn’t compromise their dedication. In fact, working from anywhere or doing hybrid jobs has proven to be more engaging for employees.
However, the concern is not only regarding people’s work; it is also about how the work will be transformed. A study conducted with PwC employees in 2016 found that 63% of employees strongly believe that there will be no 8-hour workday in the near future.
Long working hours result in burnout and stress, which causes various industries to lose their employee assets. Companies can face upto $125 billion loss annually if they give up on such employees.
Digital Nomadism is vanishing
The next work from anywhere trends has some bad news on the part of digital nomadism. Telecommuters or digi-nomads who could literally work from any part of the world are giving up on the lifestyle. A majority of remote employees stick to their homes when it comes to working remotely.
Employees who are reluctant to be digital nomads might face some difficulty because preference is given to remote workers with a proper schedule. The current state of jobs might necessitate this trend to continue in the upcoming years because it surpasses employee expectations.
Not more than 20% of employees are willing to be functional in coworking spaces or coffee shops, which, of course, increases the % of those working from home.
Increase of People Enablement
Businesses implement different approaches when it comes to employee empowerment and engagement. One of them is people enablement, which relies on the concept that the industry can scale up if employees are free to discover their potential.
Moreover, they will learn new things and gain experience. Such a theory gives a major push to these trends mainly because it prioritizes a top-down way of work management. Most industries are implementing people enablement approaches to use HR to fulfill the needs of their remote workers.
More than 86% of workers feel that work from anywhere trends are quite helpful in relieving stress.
HR Automation
Working remotely often comes with its own set of challenges, and HR has a big role to play. In order to optimize work-from-anywhere setups, an HR professional must be able to leverage all necessary resources.
Technologies like chatbots are immensely needed because they will cut customer support expenses by 30%. As a matter of fact, modern HR tools and software will be competent enough to filter candidates and sort them automatically.
A remote work setup allows for the modification of parameters when recruiting team members. This is rather useful for HRs because they can easily process candidates and hire from multiple walks of life.
Freelancing Might Hype Up
Freelancing has been increasing ever since employees have become aware of its advantages. Fiverr, Upwork, and other platforms are busy markets now that connect freelancers with potential employers based on their skills.
Freelancing is a much better alternative for people who are not willing to take regular jobs. Even for work-from-home or remote employees, it is necessary to follow office policies or protocols. But freelancing is altogether a different concept.
As individuals prefer freelancing more, there is a transition in the conventional job industry. Apart from added flexibility, freelancing also gives individuals a lot of time to research and produce better work quality.
HR professionals choosing virtual interviews
Once, they were limited to boardrooms, but interviews, at present, have crossed physical boundaries. Virtual interviews are increasing since 9 out of 10 industries have already leveraged it into their process of hiring.
The common perception is remote employees must be recruited digitally so that they have an idea of how to work. Software like Spark Hire has been a massive help for HRs when they seek the right candidates for their jobs.
Virtual scanning processes not only gauge employee skills but also help them to handle unexpected questions.
A Diversified Workforce
One of the fewest things people know about work from anywhere trends is that they pave the way for an inclusive workforce. In remote jobs, differences are less visible, and people can work collaboratively, irrespective of where they come from.
When equality is this transparent, companies are bound to be 100% productive. Employees have peace of mind while working, and they can easily leave behind their differences.
While remote work might pose some danger on the employer side, it has a lot of benefits, too. Location bias in remote settings isn’t a factor anymore. Employers now judge candidates on the basis of their capabilities not location.
Increased Workplace Actualization
Remote work cannot function without bringing in the right set of technology. Remember how we talked about HR automation before? Well, that’s not the only thing needed in a digital nomadic setup.
Unless we have a tight cybersecurity arrangement, remote data is vulnerable to serious threats. This necessitates tracking employee jobs and making stringent cybersecurity policies.
These technologies have the potential of both shaping the homely environment for jobs and maintaining employee’s presence of mind. With digitally-inclined social environments, employee isolation can decrease to a larger extent.
Employee Benefits need re-evaluation
It is true that remote jobs are becoming widely accepted. Yet employers must recognize the need to re-evaluate worker benefits. One of the first things a business must think of is EVP or Employee Value Proposition if industries truly value their employees.
From everyday product discounts to mental health programs, it is high time for industries to start thinking about their workforce. Placing a coffee vending machine in your workspace isn’t the only thing a manager has to do for its employees.
Re-evaluating employee benefits and modifying them offers great rewards and recognition. It also helps to focus on the actual needs of your team, which is a proven holistic approach for employees.
Sustainability
Last but not least, remote jobs have a bigger role when it comes to increasing environmental sustainability. The largest reduction will be seen in carbon emissions as there will be fewer cars on the road. What could be a better way of reducing commute-related stress if not this?
With fewer employees in the office, the use of electricity will also be low in commercial setups. Less usage of air conditioning systems will do less or no harm to the environment, which will change the overall scenario of ongoing pollution.
Working from home means you can have natural ambient lighting as well as a naturally cool environment. It is true that a large proportion of ecological destruction happens due to tech giants and industrial sectors.
Are Work From Anywhere Trends Truly The Future?
Whether working from home or anywhere else, the overall look of job sectors has been taking a massive turn. Millennials and Gen Zs are crazy for flexibility. With tons of opportunities in the market, they are no longer crazy about sticking to one company.
Digital nomadism is actually great for those looking forward to a healthy work-life balance. Tedious 9-to-5 jobs are not among potential candidates’ first preferred jobs. Instead, they are looking for remote jobs.
That being said, this comprehensive guide comes to an end. But is it truly a delight to know your perspective on the same? So, do let us know in the comment box below what do you think of remote jobs and will they thrive in 2024?
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