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The pandemic has given companies and their team members a taste of the future by forcing entire workforces to go remote overnight. For many former office workers, spending a year working from the comfort of their own home has solidified a strong preference for remote work.
While some are eager to be able to meet in person again safely, the overwhelming majority of professionals prefer to continue to work remotely in some capacity once the pandemic is over. From the look of things, we’re in a middle of a remote work revolution.
The Increasing Preference for Remote Work
According to a recent FlexJobs survey, 65% of participants indicated they wanted to continue working remotely full time, and another 33% preferred a hybrid approach.
Furthermore, 58% of survey respondents said they would “absolutely” look for a new role if they could not continue working remotely at their current company. Just 2% of survey respondents said they wanted to go back to an office full time.
Even as their team members demand a more flexible and modern approach to work, many companies remain committed to an eventual return to the office. And that “eventual” is rapidly becoming “imminent” as vaccinations roll out globally.
With the light at the end of the tunnel for COVID-19, is the future of work changing again?
A World Divided
Maybe. All of the major tech companies are split.
Some key players like Gitlab, Spotify, Twitter, and Facebook have embraced remote work online. In contrast, other giants like Google, Amazon, and Netflix have backtracked on remote work and are poised to return to a more traditional office-centric culture post-pandemic.
Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs recently made news when CEO David Solomon “rejected remote working” as a new normal and instead called remote work an “aberration that we’re going to correct as soon as possible.”
Ultimately, as has become a standard with the current pandemic, the world is divided on whether to return to the office or embrace a remote-first future.
Why The (Near) Future is Hybrid
In the immediate future, work post-pandemic is likely to be highly variable depending on the company. As COVID restrictions relax and offices “reopen,” we expect most companies to land somewhere in the middle.
Adopting a hybrid approach that allows for remote work online in some capacity. Again, what this looks like will also vary significantly from company to company.
Specific roles will be eligible for some companies to work from home, while others will need to come into the office. Other companies may allow all team members to work from home on certain days of the week while coming into the office on the other days.
Hybrid/Remote Work Culture
Ultimately, the hybrid working model will become the “new normal,” and team members think so too. A JLL Human Experience survey showed that 66% of team members expect a hybrid model when the pandemic is over.
Plus, companies like Microsoft have already indicated their plans to transition into a hybrid model to achieve the best of both worlds. Companies that try to bring team members back to the office full time will eventually be forced to adopt a hybrid or remote work culture.
Why? Team member demand for remote work is apparent.
Companies that offer a remote-first culture now will be desirable to job candidates. Plus, with fewer geographical limitations, early adopters of fully remote work will be able to attract talent from a much broader talent pool.
That will create immense pressure on companies that decide to move forward with an office-centric model, which will need to adapt to remain competitive in the talent market.
Join the Remote Work Revolution
Are you sold on the remote work revolution yet? Is your company trying to transition to a hybrid/remote model? If so, you need a suitable virtual space.
Luckily, Kosy got you covered. Kosy is a virtual workspace that allows remote teams to focus, collaborate, and socialize like they’re back at their old office.
If this is something you’re looking for, try Kosy out for free, and see how it will help you establish a positive remote work culture.
