Remote work has taken the business sector by storm, especially in the past couple of years. All over the globe, companies are adapting to remote work and hybrid working arrangements, and by the end of this year, it’s expected that 25% of professional workers will jump on the ‘remote bandwagon.’ And as more companies are embracing the shift towards remote work, there are also new and emerging remote work trends.
With such a fundamental change to the workplace, below we look at what to expect in terms of remote work trends in 2023 that are aimed at maintaining your team’s overall productivity and satisfaction.
Improving Productivity
Managing remote teams is a complex task and managers must constantly think of ways to maintain and maximize their employees’ productivity levels.
Many companies use software to monitor remote employees so they can be sure that they’re productive and meet deadlines. This is a trend that we will continue to see in 2023.
Employers can identify which tasks should be prioritized and marked as complete by having a work management platform that reviews daily workloads. Setting milestones to break down larger goals into more manageable ones can help employers set clear expectations and track progress. This will allow managers to evaluate progress more effectively and motivate their remote employees.
Enhancing Company Culture
In 2023, we expect to see companies placing more importance on improving company culture so they can attract and retain top talent in a highly competitive job market.
There are many benefits to cultivating a positive culture in your company. This can create a more positive work environment where employees stay committed and loyal. Companies that place a strong emphasis on work-life balance may be able to help employees feel happier and take fewer sick days.
Positive company culture can also significantly increase productivity, collaboration, and innovation. There are many ways remote companies can create and cultivate a better company culture. The important thing is to take a proactive approach when it comes to creating and improving company culture through remote work.
Ensuring Better Cybersecurity Awareness and Protection
Organizations are becoming more aware of the vulnerabilities and risks associated with hybrid and remote workforces. For this reason, they also acknowledge the need to take better remote cybersecurity measures, including awareness training.
Remote employees often work using their own devices. These devices may also be connected with other Internet of Things (IoT) devices. If not properly managed, they could pose serious cybersecurity risks.
Even if remote employees are given company laptops and devices to use at home, it is still important that they comply with all IT policies. It is pivotal that IT support teams ensure that all cybersecurity protections are in place, including encryption communications and multi-factor authentication.
Companies should also train their employees about the latest phishing scams and what to do if a suspicious activity or cyber breach is detected.
Cloud computing and cloud backups are becoming more popular in the fight against such cyber attacks, but companies will also continue to use SaaS solutions to enhance their protections against such attacks. Companies are also creating disaster recovery and backup systems to ensure that they can respond quickly to any attacks or risks.
Embracing Flexible Work Arrangements
Remote employers are more than happy to accept flexible working hours and this is something that many companies are starting to implement. They recognize that flexibility is a desirable feature and that their remote employees appreciate having the time to pick up their children from school, go to the gym, and run errands during work hours.
Employees who have flexibility in their lives can lead happier, more fulfilled lives. Companies can maintain productivity while adopting flexible work schedules. They can use tools to track time or establish key performance indicators (KPIs), to help ensure that performance is kept at a satisfactory level.
Flexibility extends to the hours you work in the office. Some employees might work remotely, but many companies offer working-from-home days, which include being able to use a coworking space for hybrid team members as an added benefit.
Diversity in Recruitment
The increasing emphasis placed on diversity in recruiting and hiring practices is another growing trend in remote work. This offers many opportunities to hire top talent from around the globe. It is important to be aware of and recognize the differences in how you can reach diverse talent through modified job descriptions, hiring processes, and onboarding.
Diversity is synonymous with inclusion. Companies are increasingly recognizing the importance of inclusive work policies and practices to attract and retain qualified workers from all over the globe.
Better Benefits
Remote employees have different priorities when it comes to the benefits package that will draw them to work for a company. Many companies are creating remote-friendly benefits and perks to attract and retain top talent from around the world.
We mentioned flexible work hours, but other benefits include remote health insurance, bonuses, IT and wellness stipends, etc. All of these examples can save your organization from potential loss of productivity and morale.
Final Thoughts
Remote work is becoming more mainstream and certain trends will define this working style in 2023. These trends focus more on increasing productivity, and flexibility, enhancing company culture, better cybersecurity awareness and protection, and an emphasis on diversity in recruitment. Make sure to follow the trends if you want your business to be successful.