Before the pandemic, employees often clamored for remote work, but were met with resistance from companies reluctant to step out of their paradigm. Now that businesses have been forced to give it a chance, the results have surprised everyone. Not only are workers satisfied with the arrangement; many company heads have changed their tune. Now that they see the value in remote work, we can expect the trend to continue.
What changed? Before the pandemic, it was estimated that 37 percent of jobs in the US could be done entirely from home or remotely. And yet only 7 percent of employment was conducted this way. In our pandemic world however, a majority of workers were reporting into the office from home (or other locations) each day. Now, 35 percent of all employees are working remotely, and another 30 percent consider themselves “hybrid” employees (working both remotely and sometimes in the office).
The pandemic forced employers to try the very arrangements they had viewed skeptically in the past, and the consensus is clear: Both the workers and the companies overwhelmingly report satisfaction.
Technology has caught up with demand. In the past, remote work might have posed numerous challenges. But now, 82 percent of employees say that technology provides the tools they need to connect with their teams and managers without stepping foot into the office.
Engagement rates are high. One of the most common concerns with remote work, that employees would mentally “check out” of the office, has been proven to be false. Surveys show that 81 percent of hybrid employees report high engagement with work, followed by 78 percent of fully remote employees and 72 percent of fully non-site workers.
Productivity remains consistent. Perhaps surprisingly, productivity has remained level or even increased with remote work! According to one survey, 83 percent of companies say remote work has been successful for their company. And the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) shows labor productivity has increased during the pandemic!
Remote work will continue. With both workers and company heads reporting high rates of satisfaction, it’s no wonder that remote and hybrid work situations are set to continue in the future. Only 11 percent of surveyed employees want to go back to on-site work, with 68 percent requesting hybrid work and 21 percent wanting to remain completely remote.
With those kinds of numbers, companies would be hard pressed to insist on a full return to the office. Employees know they can perform just as well remotely, and they know that their managers are aware of these facts too.
Remote work isn’t going away; in fact, the trend is set to grow in the future. But because remote work does present some challenges, workers will often require private workspaces, a more stable internet connection, or meeting rooms for group collaboration.
Parlay Cafe is ahead of the curve with respect to these trends. As a result, our franchisees are perfectly positioned with a business model that caters to an increasing demand. The timing is right for our model… are you ready to capitalize on it? If so, contact us for more information and to learn how Parlay Cafe offers the rare opportunity to be in the right place, at the right time, in our changing economy.