3 Strong and Effective Remote Working Trends We Expect To See in 2023
Learn about the remote working habits companies can implement in 2023 while attracting talent and keeping productivity high.
Remote and hybrid work is becoming more mainstream. That said, companies are still facing talent shortages. So, what are a few remote working habits companies can implement in the New Year while attracting talent and keeping productivity and happiness high? Sunny Saurabh, co-founder and CEO, Interviewer.AI, shares three trends.
Employers and employees across the globe have spent most of 2022 moving toward a further permanent remote and hybrid working environment. Big-tech companies have even shown they are on board with the advancements. Facebook publicly estimated that by 2030, half of their team would be permanent remote workers.
According to Hiring Lab, pre-pandemic remote work postings on job boards averaged 2.5% in January 2020, but by September 2021, remote work postings almost tripled to 7.5%. Another study by Mickensy found that just under 60% of Americans have the flexibility to work remotely, at least part-time, as of mid-2022.
It is important to also acknowledge, amidst this major and challenging shift, that we are still seeing signs of a troubling and tiring talent shortage, which does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. As we change our approach to our day-to-day working habits, we will inevitably start to see new trends emerging around the remote/hybrid shift while finding ways to attract talent amidst a dry spell.
So, what remote working habits can you implement into your company this New Year while attracting fresh talent and maintaining your team’s overall productivity and happiness?
Enhancing Company Culture With Remote Working Options
To both attract and retain talent in a job market that is becoming increasingly competitive, we are seeing Human Resources (HR) departments focus more collective energy on enhancing their internal company culture. They aim to create an environment where employees want to grow and immerse themselves actively.
We expect to see more importance placed on ensuring those in all departments have a healthy work/life balance, with remote working or hybrid flexibility at the forefront of their mission.
From a recent study of 12,400 participants, the results show fully remote employees were 20% happier than employees who were told they must do their work in the office within a set time constraint daily.
Previous beliefs and traditions around the workplace are quickly becoming outdated. An OwlLabs study showed that 32% of those surveyed said they would quit their job if the option to work remotely were stripped away.
Clearly, such a choice, which no longer forces employees to take long commutes and solely ‘work for the weekend,’ is becoming an expectation throughout the corporate industry.
However, this new way of working also benefits the company majorly. A survey showed that 94% of employers reported that their remote workers produced higher quality work due to increased productivity and even cutting financial overheads due to higher employee happiness.
By hiring remotely, companies also open the floor worldwide for international candidates. This allows employers to expand their options to hire the best candidates, opening the door to those applicants who may have been previously limited to the company’s physical location.
A Higher Level of Mental Health Support and Awareness
Increased conversations around mental health and burnout have become a minimum standard for most companies. A positive company culture, with an open and honest work environment, has enhanced employee productivity, and collaboration, further enhancing team relationships.
By proudly standing by a culture in which you prove that your employee’s well-being is vital to the company’s values and overall success, you are also positioning yourself to attract talent based on your company values.
A vast majority of employees have shown they want to work for a company that openly embraces mental health, yet 50% still feel like companies do not make any effort to hit the minimum standard of such. Workers will either actively walk away or not be drawn to apply when that support is lacking.
To combat some of the negative effects of mental health challenges, we are starting to see companies now offering flexible mental health days or pre-scheduled wellness days to avoid burnout. These paid days off outside regular paid holidays give employees a further chance to disconnect from work and care for themselves. This enables them to return to work re-fresh, thus, improving overall long-term productivity.
By proudly standing by the push to work remotely, 70% of those surveyed in a Mental Health America survey said that a remote job would positively impact their overall mental health.
See More: How To Promote Positive Mental Health in Today’s World of Work
Opting for the Four-day Workweek
Over in the United Kingdom, it was found only five years ago that Londoners work harder than anybody else in the country, putting in an extra three weeks’ worth of work each year than the average British person. So it is no surprise that more than 70 firms within the country took part in a trial scheme, with most companies situated in London, the country’s hard-working capital.
The four-day working week allows employees to reduce the number of days they work while still fulfilling the same amount of hours weekly, thus, maintaining their original retainer. For example, instead of five eight-hour shifts spaced out from Monday to Friday, employees would work 10-hour shifts spaced out over four days and receive a three-day weekend.
An OwlLabs study on this trial found that employers saw a 20% gain in employee productivity after switching to a four-day workweek. They also saw a 27% reduction in work stress levels and a 45% increase in work-life balance. After the trial, the United Kingdom decided to make the policy permanent due to its outstanding results.
Other countries soon followed, with New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, recently encouraging businesses “in a position to do so” to adopt a four-day workweek similar to the one now implemented in the United Kingdom.
In 2023, we expect to see this rollout globally now that the results have been consistent for a long time. Companies offering a flexible, four-day workweek may also find they are less affected by the global talent shortage, as offering modern options shows from the get-go that you are a modern company willing to adapt to change.
By providing further flexibility and prioritizing work/life balance and overall employee mental health, companies will start to attract and retain a competent, loyal workforce amidst the general talent shortage.
Although recruitment may face a continued sense of uncertainty in 2023, we believe these trends we are seeing based on employee flexibility and well-being will aid companies in hiring sound and suitable talent.
What remote working habits do you plan to implement to attract talent while keeping productivity high in the new year? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
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