When you first hear the term Remote Work you might be thinking of people working from home, but there is more to the concept than that. You’ll also want to consider how Cloud computing has changed the landscape of Remote Work. Managing remote workers is also something to think about.
Cloud computing has changed remote work
Cloud technology has changed the way we work, and it has changed remote work in particular. Cloud computing allows users to access their files from any device with an Internet connection. This is the ideal option for a worker who wants to stay connected to the office while avoiding commuting. It is also ideal during natural disasters or power outages.
Remote workers enjoy flexible working hours and improved work-life balance. They also tend to be more productive. Since remote workers can work from home, companies can support their growth. Moreover, they are less likely to leave the company.
Many enterprises have already switched to hybrid multicloud IT, and cloud-based technologies have expanded the scope of remote working. Some of the benefits of cloud technology include secure access to information, easy accessibility, and scalability.
Companies are using cloud-based solutions such as Office 365 to allow employees to collaborate on projects and share documents from anywhere. With technologies like Slack, remote teams can connect and work together.
Earlier, a company could only access data if it had its own data center. However, that did not help 20 employees who needed to share documents with each other. If a company has its own data center, its assets are often taken offline for maintenance.
In contrast, with a cloud-based solution, administrators can set permission requirements for each employee and customize which data they have access to. The software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications work on any device with an internet connection.
Cloud technology is crucial for businesses around the world. It provides security and scalability to ensure that operations continue despite disruptions. As more organizations adopt remote working, the IT ecosystem must also change to better serve its customers.
COVID-19 upended lives and businesses
If you were to ask someone to come up with a list of the top three perks of remote work, they would be hard pressed to come up with a single answer. And if you had to name one thing, you would likely have to pick work-from-home.
This is not to say that there aren’t advantages to working at home. For one, you can spend more time with your kids. It’s also a great way to stay healthy. In fact, a recent survey suggests that a majority of employees are satisfied with their work-from-home lifestyle.
While remote work might not seem like a worthy endeavor on first blush, the novelty of being able to do your job from the comfort of your own home is a very real deal. As a result, the number of jobs being created in the United States outstrips the number of workers. Moreover, a booming economy has boosted wages to their highest levels in four decades.
While COVID-19 has upended lives and businesses alike, the shift to remote work has been a boon to employers of all sizes. Some companies are now able to keep their doors open without sacrificing the safety of their employees.
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended our view of what it means to be an office worker. While many workers have embraced the new flexible work model, others will still crave in-person social interactions in the workplace. With the threat of the deadly virus fading, companies are re-examining how best to accommodate the needs of their employees.
What’s more, the move has also upended the labor market. Companies are now scrambling to fill open positions with the right people.
Shift to remote work spreads prosperity to smaller cities
As a result of the shift to remote work, the economic landscape of metropolitan areas has been altered. It has changed the way companies work, the ways in which workers connect with each other, and the geography of prosperity. Those in the middle of the workforce may not have as much opportunity for face-to-face interaction, while the more highly educated and affluent might choose to leave the city for less expensive areas.
In response to this change, a new suburban development model has shaped many suburbs. Former office parks are being converted into restaurants, fitness studios, and rental apartments. And in the case of Los Angeles, the economy has shifted from being dominated by traditional industrial jobs to more creative and performance-oriented ones.
The shift to remote work could also spread Bay Area jobs to other cities like Denver, Austin, and Boise. This has the potential to widen economic inequality. But it will also change the way we live. For one thing, it will create a migration of highly educated and affluent populations from the suburbs to upscale cities.
Another important effect of the shift to remote work is its impact on the real estate market. If people in smaller cities can compete with the tech hubs on the West Coast, they can also compete for housing. These changes can help ease the pressure on real estate in superstar cities.
The rapid reordering of industries is an example of how the shift to remote work accelerates the trends of urbanisation. It is also an opportunity for cities to develop robust economies that rely on remote workers. However, these shifts will not be beneficial for all communities.
Managing remote workers requires a rethink of what management means
Remote workers require a rethinking of what management means, how to do it well, and how to get the most out of your virtual employees. This includes managing the communication between a remote team and its headquarters. It also involves providing the tools and support to keep these virtual employees productive.
Managing remote workers is no easy task. In fact, a survey conducted by Ultimate Software found that 42 percent of managers ranked interpersonal connection as the top challenge. Fortunately, there are several ways to improve this.
The best strategy is to arm your team with the appropriate resources and expertise. Specifically, give them a clear and specific objective to accomplish, and then guide them on the path to meeting it. And, you may even want to provide them with some training on how to work effectively in a virtual setting.
A few years back, there was a lot of skepticism about remote work. However, it’s now a staple of many companies’ operations. There are a lot of advantages to working outside of the office, including reduced travel expenses and more time to spend with family and pets. Moreover, some employees will even enjoy a few office visits from time to time.
The best solution is to give your remote workers a well-defined mission statement. This statement should incorporate the company’s values, and provide guidance to achieve a shared vision.
It’s also helpful to provide them with the tools to carry out their mission, such as collaboration tools, virtual meetings, and online file sharing. You can do this through an open communication channel, and you can also offer regular one-on-one check-ins via videoconferencing.
Providing the right kind of communication, tools, and other assistance will go a long way in helping your remote workers succeed.
Company culture doesn’t take a hit when people work remotely
If you work remotely, you may be wondering how company culture doesn’t take a hit. While working from home does make people “a little more human,” it doesn’t automatically improve your company’s culture.
One of the most important aspects of company culture is having a shared sense of purpose. That can help drive innovation. Without that common goal, employees can feel disconnected and perform at a lower level.
Another key aspect of company culture is communication. When people are not physically in the office, it can be hard for them to communicate with one another. For example, an employee working from home may only interact with colleagues via email.
Another way that communication can be improved is by recording team meetings. Recording meetings using a tool such as GitLab Issues or Merge Requests helps ensure that everyone knows what was discussed.
As part of the documentation process, it’s important to make sure that everyone knows exactly what company values are. It’s a good idea to write these down as early as possible in the company’s handbook. However, it’s also a good idea to update these documents as necessary.
In order to create a healthy, thriving company culture, you’ll need to develop a system for communicating those values to your staff. This is especially true in a remote workplace.
Intentional documentation is an essential component of creating a strong, cohesive culture in a remote workplace. Companies can develop norms for a range of behaviors, including how team members should handle difficult situations.
Ultimately, it’s up to leaders to decide what signals they want to use to communicate their company’s values and culture. In addition, leaders can act as catalysts to encourage behaviors that support the company’s culture.