Whether or not we’d like to admit it, the coronavirus pandemic is here to stay. Since the start of 2020, the effects of this new disease have ravaged the global economy, with an estimated 300 million full-time jobs lost and numerous markets teetering on the edge of recession. While these metrics pale in comparison to the number of lives lost, they help to highlight the global nature of today’s economy.
Despite the best efforts of the World Health Organization and international officials, nearly every country has been negatively impacted by the virus. Businesses in retail, food service, and travel have been shuttered for months, leading to rising unemployment in the United States and around the world. Needless to say, there’s plenty of bad news these days when it comes to the markets.
Still, the news isn’t all bad. Those employees fortunate enough to keep their jobs are learning how to work from home, and countries around the world are starting to open back up. Life is beginning to resume, albeit with plenty of precautions. With positive progress like this in mind, let’s take a look into the history of remote work and discuss its future in the wake of COVID-19.
The History of Remote Work
Countless modern-day conveniences were developed by NASA, from camera phones to the portable computer I typed this article on. Therefore it’s no surprise that teleworking was first conceived by NASA engineer Jack Niles back in 1972. What started off as a thought experiment quickly grew, and by 1987 over 1.5 million Americans were working from home. Fast forward to 2018, and an estimated 70% of the world’s workforce were working remotely at least once per week. When used strategically, remote work provided many benefits for employers and employees alike, from increased productivity to a sense of relief during busy work weeks.
In fact, before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, a large number of tech companies offered the flexibility of remote work as a regular perk to employees, myself included. However, as COVID-19 started to spread, the luxury of remote work quickly became a necessity. As the world’s economies ground to a halt, hundreds of millions of employees were forced to adapt to the brave new world of full-time remote work. Employees who were previously told they could never work remotely rushed to create home offices while employers struggled to ensure continuity of operations.
Adjusting to Post-Lockdown Uncertainties with Remote Work
Now that the curve has been flattened and countries around the world are starting to reopen, it’s time to get back to work. But just what will work look like in a post-lockdown world? Google and Facebook anticipate their employees will work from home until at least 2021, and companies are warming up to the idea of fully remote employees as is the case at Twitter.
As remote work continues to prove essential, I’ve outlined a few key factors I believe will separate successful organizations from the pack. In particular, AGILE remote workflows could hold the key to increased productivity. For those unfamiliar, agile methodology aims to deliver work in small, consumable increments. The goals and results are continuously evaluated, encouraging adaptability and productivity at each stage of a project lifecycle i.e. planning, execution and delivery. Before the lockdown, agile workflows have been relied upon by organizations ranging from technology startups to government agencies. Agile is a truly unique approach to project management, with a host of benefits ranging from reduced risks to increased project control. As the rise of remote work continues, keeping everyone on the same page will become more critical than ever before.
Similarly, companies that have adapted to a remote enabled model can now consider slowly adopting a dual approach – combining regular remote work with in-office workdays – when it is safe to do so. Ironically, enabling employees to return to the office two or three days per week could provide some of the same benefits that remote work initially provided before the pandemic. In a socially distant world, the opportunity to occasionally get back into the office would do wonders for employee productivity, morale, and mental health.
Is Remote Work the Future of Work?
There’s plenty of uncertainty in today’s world. At the end of the day, businesses large and small must be prepared to make the most of the current situation for however long it lasts. Furthermore, certain organizations may benefit from the long-term adoption of remote workers, even after social distancing is behind us. The popularity of remote work was increasing even before COVID-19 came onto the scene. As such, now is a great time to invest in a long-term remote work infrastructure, especially for companies interested in strengthening their future opportunities.