Remote Work Trends: What You Should Know

If you’re interested in finding a career that allows you to work from home, you’ll find the changes in telecommuting trends as well as in the perspective on working remotely interesting. The following six changes in working from home can help you understand how the work environment is evolving and what this could mean for the future.

 

Cities like New York and Los Angeles have had declining populations since 2010. Many younger people are leaving these cities because they want to raise their families in a rural community. Other things that contribute to people moving away from big cities include:

• Housing prices
• Climate
• Availability of jobs

As more and more companies allow people to work from home, living in a big city, near an office isn’t necessary. This means that remote workers can choose where they live based on factors other than proximity to their place of work. Crime rates tend to be much higher in the nation’s largest cities, meaning that people feel safer living in smaller communities. Thanks to better and faster internet connections in rural neighborhoods, many people are able to telecommute from the comfort of their own home. People are migrating out of cities like New York, Chicago, and St. Louis in search for a warmer, more comfortable climate. Although the climate in Los Angles is moderate, the poor air quality is a contributing factor to why people are leaving the area. Lower housing costs in rural areas also make them more attractive to professionals, especially for those who can work remotely at a high-paying job they obtained in a city, where the cost of living is higher. Because, while your location changes, your pay rate typically won’t.

Learn more: Highest Paying Work From Home Jobs

 

In the past, employers believed that people who worked remotely would be less productive. It was assumed that not being under the direct supervision of management and coworkers would result in remote workers being less effective at doing their job. Of course, the increase in remote work opportunities over the last decade has debunked this claim. Now, it’s widely known that people who are working remotely are, in fact, more productive and happier. When employees have more control over their work schedule, they can also better manage their home life. Additionally, those working from home say that they’re more productive because:

• They have fewer interruptions throughout the day.
• Their work environment is quieter.
• They can stay out of office politics.
• They’re more comfortable in their work environment.

It may come as a surprise, but even remote workers with young children at home report having less distractions than when in an office or other on-site workplace. These changes in how employers view the ability to work from home and be productive has caused many companies to reevaluate how they use their office space and whether or not they even need an office space.

Learn more: Why the Future of Work Is Remote

 

Employees who are satisfied with their job are more likely to have loyalty to the company they work for. Because many remote workers report having a better work-life balance than their on-site coworker counterparts, they tend to want to stick with the company that employs them. When working remotely, employees don’t have to miss important events. The flexibility provided via working from home allows an individual to attend their child’s sporting events or performances without having to ask their boss for time off. Because they can work from wherever they are, they’re more available to their loved ones. Another benefit is the time saved from having to commute. Commuting to and from work can take a lot of time out of your day. It often means that your workday is much longer than the time you actually spend at work. Working from home eliminates this, making it easier to have time for other things in your life. Employees working from home also feel more valued. This is because they aren’t being micromanaged by a boss who makes them feel like their work isn’t satisfactory. An employee who is constantly being checked up on doesn’t feel trusted, which can ultimately cause them to underperform rather than to excel. At home, an employee can get their job done at their own pace, in a stress-free environment, which makes them more comfortable and gives them more confidence to perform well.

 

As more employers begin to embrace remote work trends, they’re changing the policies for remote workers as well. While employers used to think that people wouldn’t have a good work ethic when working from home, they are now seeking more people who want to work from anywhere. This is definitely causing a change in policies where remote work is concerned. Some of the policies that are being put in place include:

• Locations from which people can work remotely.
• What’s expected of people working remotely.
• Benefits for remote workers.
• Equipment available to remote workers.
• How often remote workers are expected to check in or telecommute.

Not all companies provide the same benefits to their employees, so you should note that not all companies will provide the same benefits for remote workers. Some employers will require their remote employees to work specific hours, while others allow for more flexibility. Your employer may pay for things like internet or phone service if you’re working from home. These are the types of policies that are being put in place by many companies that are starting to embrace remote working opportunities.

 

Just a few years ago, not many companies provided remote positions. Although remote work has been around for quite sometime, most companies didn’t think it was a viable option for the majority of their employees. Recently, this perspective has changed a great deal. It’s now obvious that remote work isn’t going anywhere. If anything, it’s becoming more commonplace, and you’ll find that a lot of jobs that didn’t used to offer their employees the chance to work from home are now doing so more readily. Surveys have found that 96% of employees want to work at least part of the time from home. Others surveys have found that nearly 80% of employers are willing to accommodate, at least to some degree, those employees who prefer to work from home. Many companies are in fact considering reducing the amount of office space they maintain.

 

The job market for remote workers is changing. Salespeople have often been in work-from-home positions. However, until the invention and widespread use of both the internet and cell phones, most jobs required employees to show up at a business during their scheduled working hours. Now, many jobs can be done from home or anywhere that you can get a good internet connection. If you’re interested in working from home, all you have to do is type ‘remote jobs‘ into your internet browser, and a plethora of information will be provided. With such a wide variety of jobs available, there’s a remote work position out there for just about anyone who wants one. Some of the remote jobs you might be interested in include:

• Counselor
• Medical claims auditor
• Front end developer
• Virtual assistant
• Writer
• Underwriter
• Marketing specialist
• Web designer
• Accountant
• Project manager

These are just some of the jobs that can now be done remotely thanks to the huge change in remote work trends over the last decade. When seeking a job that offers remote positions, you have a much larger job pool to choose from now than ever before. Trends in the sphere of remote work are changing. Glassdoor is on the forefront of these changes to help keep you informed about what they are and how they might affect the job opportunities available to you now, and in the future.