WFH | The current push for remote working has short- and long-term benefits

As a direct result of the current global health crisis, remote working (when possible) is proving to be a positive choice for both employers and their employees.

Evidently, businesses need to try to continue as much as possible to achieve their usual productivity levels, and HR is at the forefront of the push to ensure that the work that needs to be done, can be done, even if staff are working at home.

Though we are facing unprecedented disruption to our working practices, it is useful to consider that even before the current push, homeworking has been proven time and time again to be just as effective as office-based working – and it has multiple benefits for employees and businesses alike.

In fact, the whole concept of remote working and the flexibility that comes with it has been on the rise for years. The working habits of old – when vast numbers of people commuted daily to an office, sat at their desk all day, and then faced the commute home again – have been facing a kickback. Technology has already enabled far greater workforce mobility with workers accessing information from the cloud, holding virtual meetings and conferences, and collaborating easily via shared platforms. This shift has also facilitated more autonomy and trust between employer and employee, and in many cases prompted productivity improvements as a result of fewer distractions and more time to focus without having to sit through a time-consuming commute.