The remote workforce still makes up a significant segment of the economy. Many companies adopted and now maintain remote positions, allowing workers more freedom than a typical 9-to-5 job. For their part, remote workers learned to embrace home offices and adopt virtual office backgrounds to maintain a level of decorum during Zoom meetings and other virtual gatherings. As companies prepare for the new year, what are the trends in the remote working environment, and how can they adapt and attract the most talented employees?
1. Flexible Scheduling
In recent years, work-life balance has become a rallying cry for office and remote workers. The rise of technology contributed to an additional strain on employee life after work hours. Managers, coworkers, and other superiors were reaching out to employees well beyond typical hours, making it feel like workers were never really off the clock.
While allowing remote work helped in some cases, it made it worse in others. Supervisors felt a need to micromanage because workers were not in an office or controlled environment with direct supervision.
In the coming year, workers and employers will need to focus on flexible scheduling, which allows workers some autonomy over their schedules. The autonomy should contribute to a healthier work-life balance. Also, with several years of experience with a remote workforce, employers can start embracing more trust with employees and establish regular contact hours to offer some relief from the 24/7 availability tech allows.
2. Easy Collaboration
Another positive stemming from an increase in remote workers and the adoption of remote positions is the rise in collaboration tools. From Zoom to Microsoft Teams, employers now have multiple channels to connect with and share a face-to-face space, even thousands of miles apart.
With the rise in collaboration tools comes an increase in the need for professional rules, such as pants are a must on virtual calls. Also, since people work from all different spaces, from basements to garages to secondary bedrooms, a Zoom background with company logo can add to the professionalism of the virtual environment. While there is nothing inherently wrong with displaying personal nicknacks or souvenirs, sometimes items on display in a home are not suitable for display in a professional environment. Virtual backgrounds help hide personal items, protecting the individual and their privacy while maintaining a professional atmosphere.
3. Upskilling and Reskilling Remote Employees
Finally, beyond using virtual office background for Teams, 2024 will see an increase in upskilling or reskilling remote employees. As tech evolves, there is a need to evolve with it. Remote workers will continuously need to adopt new tools and environments, meaning they must be somewhat tech-savvy. Also, an employer’s need for remote workers will continue to change with the technological environment. For example, AI is becoming more accessible and useable, meaning the remote workforce will need to learn how to use it effectively without sacrificing quality or company integrity.
The new year, as always, brings new challenges and advancements. As a business owner or remote worker, you must stay on top of the emerging trends to ensure you aren’t left behind. Consult a remote work professional for more advice and information.
