What Is Remote Work?
Remote work is altering everything, from how we communicate with one another to how we calculate productivity. Many of the traditional guidelines for our professional lives have been changed by the “great remote work experiment. ”
Businesses have introduced new guidelines for remote and hybrid work, and according to a U.S. survey, 53% of participants intend to keep working from home, at least occasionally. It is obvious that digital tools will be used by distributed, remote, co-located, and international workforces to remain connected and productive in the future of work.
What exactly is remote work, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of working remotely for an extended period of time? We cover all of that and more in our guide to remote work. If you’re new to remote working, Freedom Of Work’s guide will provide advice on how to get started as well as methods for making the most out of your WFH experience. But let’s begin with the fundamentals first.
What does it mean to work remotely?
Remote working is currently a hot topic in the workplace. A form of workplace arrangement that doesn’t require you to visit a physical office location is called remote work. You can work from anywhere, including your home, a park, a cafe, a bar, or anywhere else. You are free to pick your place of employment.
The only things you need for remote work when you work online are a laptop and good internet connections. Teleworking, telework, working from home, and mobile work are also known as telecommuting, as are future of work, and mobile work.
Why is remote work so popular?
Because it offers advantages to both employers and employees, remote work has grown in popularity. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced many organizations to switch from a traditional face-to-face workplace to a completely remote workforce for health and safety reasons, it also attracted a lot of new attention.
The benefits of remote working, such as shorter or eliminated commute times, advantages for hiring and hiring, and productivity improvements, are all factors that contribute to its long-term popularity.
Types of remote work
There are a few versions of remote work. These are:
- Fully remote job
- Flexible job
- Freelance
Fully remote
For a business with a traditional office, full-time employees work. The only difference is… They can be found at home, in a coworking space, in a coffee shop, or even in a park. Fully remote workers receive a salary like everyone else and a path to career advancement because this is an otherwise “normal “job. The same rights and benefits are offered to on-site employees as well as those who work remotely.
The company itself likely has many of its own remote workers, with a structure that supports remote employment. These are fairly uncommon. This keeps communication high and increases productivity. Fully remote employees can live anywhere in the country, and occasionally the world, depending on the position. What are some well-known careers that can be completed entirely remotely:
- Digital Marketing
- Copywriting and copy editing
- Web or graphic design
- Translation
- Customer service management
- Software development
- Social media management
- Online teaching
- Accounting
- Virtual assistance
Flexible
This kind of remote employment enables flexibility in terms of work schedule, location, or both. A regular in-office position that allows staff to work from home at least once a week is typically considered flexible employment.
All UK employees have the legal right to request flexible working since 2014, provided they have worked for the company for more than 26 weeks. Organizations can grant or deny this based on the benefits and drawbacks of the absence of the employee from the office as well as the ability to perform the job remotely.
Conversely, some flexible employment lets workers work remotely the majority of the time with weekly in-person meetings. Employees in this situation are typically required to reside a fair distance from the corporate office.
Fields that commonly offer flexible jobs include:
- Computer and IT
- Sales and marketing
- Healthcare
- Software development
- Project management
- Account management
- Accounting and finance
- Education and training
- Customer service
Freelance
Effectively speaking, a freelancer is a distant entrepreneur. They finish projects and tasks frequently simultaneously for several clients. Each client has its own terms, fees, and deadlines, and freelancers are accountable to the organizations they work for. Some freelancers work in addition to a regular full- or part-time job as part of a passion project, side gig, or to increase their overall income. Among the most prevalent fields are:
- Digital Marketing
- Social media management
- Consulting
- Journalism
- PR
- Design services
- Coding
- Writing and Editing
How do people work remotely?
People can work remotely in a number of different ways. People can choose to work in a way that makes the most sense for their lives, which is the beauty of remote work.
For instance, some people have to commute to meetings in person at the office one day per week while doing so for the majority of the week while working remotely. These remote employees can work from their company’s office on average and on days when they need to, working from their homes or nearby coffee shops.
Coworking spaces are the tools that many people use to accomplish their tasks. Coworking spaces provide excellent network connectivity and opportunities to meet other workers in a variety of industries, serving as hubs of productivity, community, and technology. People with full-time jobs, freelance jobs, and even entrepreneurs who want to rent out office space for themselves or their small staff can use them.
Coworking spaces provide you the convenience of working from home combined with the business amenities and networking opportunities of an office setting. In fact, you might argue that they’re a hybrid between a regular office and a nontraditional workspace. The location freedom that remote employees enjoy is beneficial, regardless of whether they decide to join a global coworking collective or utilize a coworking space in their hometown.
Some people who work remotely make the most of the opportunities that come with living that way. Apart from having the flexibility to arrange their work hours to suit their productivity or creativity, some remote workers choose to abandon their fixed schedules and travel. Through work and travel programs or independent travel arrangements, they take their remote work to various places across the world in an attempt to broaden their horizons, gain a better understanding of the world, and connect with professionals across the globe.
How to Find Remote Jobs
Today’s job market is driven by labor shortages, giving candidates an advantage. With more options for jobs, a lot of people are searching for the flexibility that the pandemic has brought to the workplace.
If that sounds familiar to you at the moment, you might want to know what businesses are hiring remote workers and where to find them if they aren’t in your neighborhood. Can you be certain that you’ll be able to work remotely for the long term?
With five pointers that encourage you to take a multifaceted approach, you can find some useful advice on how to find remote jobs.
- How to find remote job postings online: To begin your search, you can check out the job listings on job-hunting websites or visit the leading companies in your field to see open positions there. However, that can be overwhelming, especially if websites don’t use filters to help users locate remote jobs. You can also set up a job alert to receive emails when new remote jobs are listed.
- Tap your online network: There is a lot of online networking happening because so many people work from home and spend hours using their devices. Use this opportunity to ensure that your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date and in excellent shape. If you have a digital portfolio, a cover letter, and resume, as well. Try expanding your network by joining online alumni communities, reconnecting with former coworkers, and conversing with former managers. Simply put, don’t be shy to let others know you’re looking for a remote job.
- Look far and wide for remote jobs: Working from home offers a number of advantages. You won’t have to think about how long you have to commute each day, which is one of the benefits. Cast a wide net and don’t limit yourself to pursuing career opportunities in your city or even your state when looking for a remote job. Working with a recruiter allows you to expand your search beyond one specific location to find a remote job.
You would have the freedom to pursue your career anywhere, without any location requirements because some positions are advertised as “work-from-anywhere “openings. However, be aware that some businesses will ask you to attend sporadic in-person meetings or collaborate outside of their normal 9 to 5 hours.
Advantages and disadvantages of remote work
Advantages
- Enhanced Work-Life Integration: Remote workers can avoid the stress of daily traffic jams, allowing them to dedicate more time to family or pursue personal interests. With ample rest and leisure time, employees can concentrate better on their tasks, resulting in improved productivity and efficiency.
- Greater Flexibility: In a conventional office setting, employees are typically required to work 8-9 hours a day, making it difficult for them to step out for personal errands or take short breaks without disrupting their workflow. Such flexibility is often only available after hours or through formal leave requests.
- Enriched Employee Experience: The absence of a daily commute, excessive coffee breaks, and lengthy hours away from loved ones significantly enhances the overall experience and well-being of remote workers. By prioritizing a positive employee experience, organizations foster a culture of high performance where individuals are motivated to excel and thrive in their roles.
- Boosted Productivity: Unlike their office-bound counterparts who may feel drained after enduring lengthy commutes, remote employees often start their workdays feeling refreshed and optimistic, which contributes to heightened levels of productivity.
Disadvantages
- No face-to-face connection: Without in-person interactions or regular team meetings, newly remote teams may find it challenging to collaborate effectively. Managers often worry that team productivity may drop compared to the office, even though research suggests otherwise. Similarly, employees might face difficulties due to less direct support from managers, sometimes feeling disconnected when their remote managers aren’t attuned to their needs and concerns.
- Lack of access to information: Remote employees, especially without proper onboarding or assistance, can struggle to locate crucial information needed to do their jobs. On average, employees spend about 30% of their day searching for resources, and this can increase in a remote setting. With limited direct access to colleagues, this challenge can lead to lower productivity and decreased engagement.
- Reduced collaboration: Remote work reduces opportunities for casual, spontaneous conversations among team members, like those that happen over lunch or during breaks. While these informal chats may seem trivial, they actually play a vital role in strengthening team communication and coordination.
Remote working best practices
There are some general best practices to create the conditions for success, even though there is no single “right “way to work remotely. Among them are:
- Clear guidelines and policies: A healthy understanding of expectations often informs a culture of trust: Is someone expected to be “in the office ” (or be available for online communication) at a specific time or for a certain number of hours per day? How are performances evaluated? What tools and applications are permitted for business use? And so forth.
- Team building: A team is a team even if it is virtual. It is the duty of managers in particular to create cooperative, open-minded teams that care about the success of one another. This could involve various activities like acknowledging both individual and group accomplishments, as well as infrequent in-person meetings when feasible, like during a retreat or social gathering.
- Top-notch technologies: Companies with high-performing remote teams invest in the technologies their employees rely on to perform their jobs. These include high-speed broadband, reliable and simple applications, as well as other business-specific requirements.
Best Sites for Finding Remote Work
1. Upwork is a leading online marketplace that connects businesses with a vast network of independent professionals, enabling clients to hire top talent for various projects while ensuring affordability and security in the hiring process.
2. Freelancer is a prominent online platform that allows businesses and individuals to post projects and hire freelancers from around the world, facilitating a diverse range of services including writing, design, programming, and marketing.
3. Fiverr is a global marketplace that connects freelancers with businesses, offering a wide range of digital services from design to marketing, starting at just $5.
4. Toptal is an exclusive network that connects businesses with the top 3% of freelance talent in software development, design, finance, and project management, ensuring high-quality expertise for critical projects worldwide.
5. Guru is a versatile online platform that connects businesses with a diverse pool of freelancers, allowing users to post jobs, receive quotes, and collaborate securely while benefiting from various payment options and project management tools.
Learn More: The 10 Best Sites for Finding Remote Work Online
