The Future of Remote and Hybrid Working

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted daily life in countless ways – and many of the changes made during lockdown have proven enduring. Among the most obvious aspects of the pandemic’s legacy is the ongoing practice of hybrid, and fully remote, working. But exactly how has business adapted to fit this new way of working, and what might the future hold for it?

Evolution of Work Models Post-Pandemic

While remote working was possible before the pandemic, it was only when forced to work remotely that many employees began to recognise the benefits. Greater flexibility, and a better balance between work and domestic commitments, are now valued by workers to the extent that they’re unwilling to give remote working up.

Current Trends in Remote and Hybrid Work

Of course, it’s possible to strike a balance between work in a fixed office environment, and work in a home-based office. In the former, you might conduct face-to-face meetings and touch base with members of the team. You might enjoy a better quality of communication, and a more cohesive workplace culture.

A ‘hybrid’ model seeks to balance all of this against the benefits of remote work, by having employees come into the office only on certain days of the week. This is something that around 28% of employees in the UK engaged in during Autumn 2024.

Benefits and Challenges for Businesses

We’ve touched on many of the benefits that remote workers enjoy. But why does this practice appeal to employers?

To begin with, it allows employers to access a much broader talent pool. When employees are able to work remotely, they can be recruited across vast distances. Rather than selecting from candidates within ten miles of your office, you might select them from anywhere in the world. You might also slash your overheads by downsizing the office, or dispensing with it entirely.

Of course, there are challenges to deal with. It’s less easy to check that remote workers are coping with their workload, and to identify ways in which they might be supported. Measuring productivity might also be more difficult.

Strategies for Effective Implementation

So, how do you get the best from your remote work policy? The first step is to be clear about what’s expected. Employees should understand from the outset what’s expected of them, and how they’re going to contribute. You might also consider tools to assess a fair rate of pay for the region you’re employing in. An employment cost calculator will help to ensure that you’re competitive when it comes to compensation, and that you’re getting value for money.

Technological Innovations Facilitating Remote Work

Remote work is often made possible through videoconferencing platforms like Zoom, and workflow-organising applications like Slack. But other new technologies, which might allow for a much deeper level of remote interaction between human beings, are now maturing. These include virtual and augmented reality, which promise to create a remote meeting room that’s much closer to a real-life one.