Is Remote Working a Thing now?
Is working remotely the future of employment? All the signs seem to point in that direction, but many of us are still wondering if whether to bet on a remote future or not.
The Covid-19 pandemic has forced many to work from home. This has made companies all across the World reconsider ever coming back to the office, meaning that if things continue in the same direction, we will soon be living in a World where remote jobs will be the norm.
In reality, working remotely brings many benefits to both employees and companies. So if a job can be done online why should we bother to go to the office?
The stats of remote working
Many studies have been carried out — especially in the US — to examine how popular and reliable this type of employment is. Here are some key factors to consider:
- 40% of people agree that having a flexible schedule is the best benefit of remote work.
- 16% of US companies hire exclusively remote workers.
- 76% of employees would prefer to stay with their current job if they had flexible hours.
- People working remotely at least once a month are 24% more likely to be happy and productive.
- The amount of remote workers has increased by 140% since 2005.
- 4.3 million people work from home at least half the time in the USA.
The benefits of remote working
75% of people choose to work remotely to avoid distractions
A survey carried out by FlexJobs in 2018 showed that the majority of people feel less distracted when working from home. The main reported distractions at the office are colleague interruptions and office noise.
86% of people said it reduces stress
The same survey showed that employees feel less stressed and overwhelmed when working from home. 77% of people agreed that it allows them to exercise more regularly, have a better diet, and a healthier lifestyle.
Online workers earn $4,000 more per year than other workers
Although this might be explained by the fact that sometimes only skilled workers are allowed to work from home, the majority of online workers expressed that they save a lot of money in terms of transport, outside lunches, etc.
The disadvantages of remote working
22% of remote workers find it difficult to shut off from work
A study carried out by Buffer showed that many workers struggle to finish their work shift when they’re supposed to. This is the result of flexibility and poor time management, which could end up blurring the line between work and free time.
Brainstorming becomes a challenge
Having an online team can make it difficult for colleagues to properly communicate and work collectively. The delay in responses and slow communication can become frustrating if your job requires lots of teamwork and collaboration.
Loneliness
As explained by Buffer’s study, 19% of workers find that loneliness is the biggest problem of remote working. Experts suggest trying to fill your free time with friends and family to make sure you don’t lose that feeling of human connection.
How can I find a remote job?
Platforms like Distant Crew help people find highly-paid remote jobs depending on their abilities and preferences. They do so by assessing your skills and then connecting you with one of their partnered companies whenever a job position opens. This way you’re hired based on your abilities and not on how your CV looks like.
Think about it as a dating app but for companies and employees. Just like in the app, getting a match is completely free, and even if you can’t find a job you’ll still get an interview to get hired as soon as a position will open.
If you want to get matched with a remote job, you should:
- Create an account,
- Add your CV or LinkedIn account,
- Take part in the HR interview,
- And wait for them to match you with a project.