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The pandemic forced millions of people to start remote work. What started out as a worldwide tragedy slowly turned into a blessing in disguise for some. Some people slowly adjusted to the new remote work routine. On the other hand, others felt like their personal lives and careers were disorganized.
A survey conducted by Flexjobs proved that employees prefer remote work and don’t want to go back to the office environment. More than 2,100 people took part in the survey and 65% of them confirmed that remote work has left a very good impression. Additionally, 58% of them were open to looking for new jobs if it meant that they could continue remote work.
But what exactly is so good about remote work? Well, here are 4 reasons why remote work is more popular.
1. Autonomy - Remote work gives employees autonomy over their levies. They are able to control their work hours and schedules as long as the work is eventually done. Additionally, we all have different productivity levels. Some people work better at night, while others are able to be productive during the day only. Remote work gives employees the choice to work anywhere and at flexible times.
2. New routine and habits - You might have started going to the gym early in the morning or created a couple of family routines. Remote work allows employees to be more involved in the family and in their personal lives. Employees have more time on their hands because their productivity levels have doubled. They can now pick and drop their children from school or help their kids finish assignments. Once you taste this freedom, you really can’t go back to the constraints of a 9-5 job schedule.
3. Cost-effective - Remote work is cost-effective for the employees and the employer. The employees don’t have to think about the cost of the commute, fuel, or food. Also, the employers have reduced office bills with increased profit margins. Working from home really is a win-win situation for everyone.
4. The commute - Well, this point is hard to ignore as it is a significant considering factor. Since most offices operate within the 9-5 job schedule, employees get to experience the negative side of mass transit. Remote work has eliminated this issue. Employees don’t have to worry about:
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Wasting time in crowded transit for long hours because of the traffic.
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Risking exposure to viruses and infections in the workplace or in transit
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Getting tired because of spending so much time in their commute.
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Staying in stuffy conference rooms for office meetings.
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Getting home tired and irritable.
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Spending less time with their loved ones.
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Rarely getting to relax and spend time in their own homes.
How to cope with returning to work
Now that more companies and businesses are opening up their offices to employees, you might want to think about how you can adjust to the 9-5 schedule again. Try this out!
1. Change your sleeping schedule a week or two before returning to work
If your sleeping schedule changed because you work better at night, you might want to work on this. Set an alarm at the exact time that you expect to wake up once you return to the office.
2. Take your remote work rituals to the office
Only do this, if you will not interfere with your schedule or colleagues' schedule. For example, if you meditate in the morning, you could get to work early to do your meditation routine before work. Be sure to maintain some of the positive routines that you set while working from home.
3. Shift your mindset
Your mindset plays a big role in your productivity. If you feel anxious and worried about the work change, you should approach the situation differently. What positive thing can you pick out from returning to work? What do you miss about working at the office? Balance out your thoughts and focus on the things that you can control.
Alternatively, if you prefer working from home, you can try to negotiate a permanent work-from-home situation with your employer. Your tactics in this negotiation should be similar to that of salary negotiation. Don’t be rigid. Try to find a balance or meet your employer halfway. You might agree to work from home for 3 days every week. What suggestions do you have? Create a list of solutions that allow your employer to compromise for your benefit. If you want to permanently work from home, you could come up with a draft work from home policy and present it to your employer.
Conclusion
Is it true that remote work is attractive? Well, yes! Who can say no to having flexible working hours that allow you to work from anywhere? In fact, it is not surprising that some employees don’t want to step away from remote work. However, if your employer calls upon you to return to the office, you have three options, namely: -
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Return to working from the office
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Negotiate a temporary or permanent remote work schedule with your employer
The ball is in your court!