The Promise and Pitfalls of Remote Work: Embracing the Challenges

The changing landscape in the world of work offers more options than ever for employers and employees. By 2025, nearly 32 million Americans will be working full-time remotely. This staggering transformation must be carefully managed for companies and employees to benefit mutually. Because of these significant changes in the nature and structure of the typical work day, as more and more companies explore the idea of remote work arrangements, the challenges of these new working relationships will inevitably need to be effectively addressed.

Many employees who have already had the experience of working from home maintain a positive opinion of the arrangement, stating that it gives them a better work/life balance and more time to spend with their families. It is undeniably a significant time and money-saving scenario that many recognize, making remote work options highly desirable. Companies seeking to recruit and retain top talent should consider offering remote work options to keep pace with their competitors.

Despite the desire to keep a high level of employee satisfaction, which has been shown to correlate strongly with employee morale and productivity, employers must consider the challenges of this new working relationship. Those employers with some experience with remote work due to the effects of the pandemic often view the new arrangement as a challenge because of the challenge in overseeing productivity and maintaining open communication with employees who are no longer in the same office building.

Devising ways to manage both of these issues is a new challenge that requires employers to develop or implement existing technological tools to ensure that productivity and communication remain strong throughout the adjustment to remote work. Many employers require regular meetings via Zoom or Microsoft Teams, where all team members are visible on camera. This helps to reduce the anonymity of working remotely and to increase accountability and communication.

Many of the obstacles of remote work are manageable but require creativity and effort to address them effectively. Expectations around accountability and productivity must be clearly communicated and consistently applied for this new working venue to be mutually beneficial and viable because remote work appears to be the future for a large population segment.

Another challenge for many remote workers is the unavoidable sense of isolation that can affect their well-being. Being unable to socialize and commiserate face-to-face with fellow employees on the day’s issues can impact how employees view their jobs and their impact as contributors to the company’s endeavors.

The stiffness of online communication and the ability of employers to monitor these interactions between employees can certainly stifle old ways of socializing. Although employers may feel this is beneficial because they can easily eliminate negative interactions and control communications in general, it is unclear how this might indirectly affect employees’ sense of identification with the company’s goals and values.

Maintaining rigid communication methods may dehumanize the employee and lead to hostility that cannot be directly communicated. The subsequent impact on productivity and the emotional aspects of the fully engaged employee cannot be easily measured. For example, decreased productivity or general performance declines may not be clearly attributable to any one factor. Finding ways to allow employees to interact without interference or supervision in an online social setting is a definite challenge for employers who seek control, especially when they may feel they need more support in losing the power they had before the transition to remote work.

Despite the challenges, the reality of working remotely is here to stay. Although some of the obstacles may seem formidable, those companies who embrace this change will be at the forefront of blazing new trails with employees who are more fully engaged, loyal, and aligned with the company’s goals and values. Whether in a brick-and-mortar business or with an employee base scattered around the globe, this is the ultimate objective for any company. Those willing to embark on this new frontier will be the first to conquer it and to thrive in this new technological age of work.