Already, much of the world's population enjoys the benefits of remote work, finding that working remotely does not necessarily mean weakening labor relations. However, in order for a company to be able to enjoy the benefits of telecommuting, in addition to providing its staff with the necessary digital tools, it must cultivate in its employees the appropriate culture, mainly on the basis of mutual trust, transparency, and self-assessment.
Frequent team information on the various tasks that each person is required to provide on a weekly basis, as well as personal evaluation of their self-assessment, play an important role in the effective performance of remote work.
In the age of apps that combine collective work, communication, and video conferences, working in the same office has become less of a necessity for many companies. Employers need to put the right structures in places, such as scheduled video calls and regular team-building meetups to build rapport. Leaders need to lead by example and create a culture where those outside the office feel valued.
In the future, corporate social responsibility will play an increasingly important role as companies that do not have the human factor as a key priority during a crisis are currently in a difficult position and under great pressure.
However, humans are by nature collective beings, who have an evolutionary history of physically doing things together. Decades of office work is deeply rooted in our culture and collective psyche. So the question arises: how many of us are truly capable of going fully solo when it comes to the working environment?
The challenges of remote work are communication, collaboration, and loneliness in that order. Remote workers feel lonely, anxious, and depressed. Working alone for an extended period can lead to loneliness and mental health struggles, as loneliness is one of the most common complaints, with employees missing the informal social interaction of an office setting.
Although the advantages of remote work seem to outweigh those of office work considerably, it is clear that not all industries can allow for remote work, and going fully remote might still not be an ideal solution that works for everyone.
Face-to-face interactions help people communicate and bond, and this is a part of their value as well as communication, collaboration, and creativity are the keywords
Undoubtedly, remote work requires structural and operational changes and it is a bet for any company that implements it for the first time since they will be navigating the uncharted. Let’s get to know the new way of working and the new era, welcoming the beginning of a fundamental transformation in the world of work.
Foteini Karampela
Communication, Publishing & Media Representative
