An EY survey published in December 2023 notes that a hybrid model of work is increasingly the norm. Two to three days a week in the office appears to have led to employees being more productive during the previous two years.

On the other hand, an Ergotron survey from 2021 found working from home improved 56% of employees’ mental health. The remote workers polled reported a better work-life balance and healthier lifestyles, even while 40% worked more hours.

Still, only 1% of 500+ business leaders claim their organizations are fully remote. This starkly contrasts with the situation in 2022, when more than 34% of businesses had their teams working remotely.

Does that mean the era of “ Work From Home “ (WFH) is finally and undeniably over? Perhaps not yet.

The Era of Remote Work May Not Be Over Yet

According to a 2023 report by the US Census Bureau, the number of people working from their home offices went from about 9 million in 2019 to 28 million by 2021. Though the global pandemic and nationwide lockdowns contributed to this significant growth, remote work numbers held steady due to increased remote working opportunities and flexibility preferences.

In an Alludo survey, 84% of their employees reported that remote work has significantly improved their work-life balance. A closer look at the results shows that 85% of women and 86% of non-managers report markedly high improvement levels.

Despite employee preferences, many business leaders are pushing for a return to the office, with the claim remote work is not sustainable in the long term. Contrasting beliefs among employees and leadership led to a stalemate, wherein employees who worked remotely did not want to return to traditional pre-pandemic workplaces, while their employers did.

In 2022, 42% of Gen Zs reported they would quit their roles for remote work opportunities. As such, the chances of remote work fading away soon seem low.

The Future of Remote Work

The advent of generative AI has changed the way people work, redefining workspaces and revolutionizing both remote and hybrid work. AI can scour through scores of applications to find the right candidate for a job, address hiring bottlenecks, detect biometric spoofing, and pinpoint fraudulent applications.

Remote firms often receive countless applications, making it challenging to find and retain talent. AI’s real-time translation abilities can come in handy in these situations, where its utilization can bolster communication among team members regardless of their proximity to the office.

Unique benefits derive from leading teams that work from home. Remote workspaces offer improved accessibility by allowing employees to work from anywhere. The model’s “come as you are” approach gives businesses access to a broader talent pool.

The model can help businesses hire candidates with specialized skills without worrying about their location. Additionally, having team members contributing within different time zones means that someone is almost always online and working, which can give some organizations a competitive edge.

Widespread accessibility enhanced by remote workplaces promotes inclusivity and can help companies meet diversity goals. Those facing onsite work challenges — due to disabilities, caregiving duties, or otherwise — no longer get left out of the workforce.

Remote work requires creative HR technique implementation. Companies need the right HR tech to support remote teams, leading to communication lapses and employee alienation. Team building and communicating larger company goals also pose challenges. The difficulty of global team management can negatively affect overall attitudes toward remote work.

Businesses can adopt tech to counter this disconnect. Services like contractor management systems allow leaders to monitor widespread virtual teams effectively. Various integrated tools can help management stay abreast of employee data, find better-suited candidates, hire remote contributors, meet global compliance needs, and make timely international payments.

Investing in cloud-based communication platforms like Slack can boost employees’ communication and connection. The right tools can create an accessible platform where employees can hold work discussions, share company goals, make announcements, and feel like a meaningful part of a team.