1039373473-550?v=1

New Ways To Work

Technology, The Pandemic, And Employee Preferences Will Reshape How Many Perform Their Jobs In The Future

A quick survey of the Kirkland cityscape makes one thing obvious: growth is continuing, even in the midst of a global health crisis. For example, in addition to the 400,000 square feet of Kirkland Urban office space Google purchased last July, the company has acquired the 10-acre property at the site of the Lee Johnson car dealerships and plans to expand its campus. Even pre-pandemic, some tech companies sought to locate their facilities closer to where their employees live, and many of them live on the east side. 

These moves are possible, in part, because other companies are reducing their physical space. In August, as retail space sales activity was limited by state protective orders, outdoor retailer REI sold its new headquarters in Bellevue to Facebook, which is also expanding its presence in the area. 

Office Space

So, how does this growth in office space mesh with a sizable workforce that has grown accustomed to working remotely?  According to a November report in Geekwire, Google will allow employees to work remotely until July 2021, and “is considering hybrid models for future work.” Per the same report, Redmond-based Microsoft is rolling out a hybrid workplace policy that “lets employees have a more flexible remote work schedule and even relocate elsewhere in the country.”

The State of Remote Work

Who is able to work remotely largely depends on the type of work and whether there is a requirement to be present at a job site. A McKinsey analysis found that more than half the workforce “has little or no opportunity for remote work.” This may be due to the need to collaborate with others at a physical location such as a construction site or grocery store, or jobs that require specialized machinery such as is used in the medical field or in package delivery. The pandemic has brought into sharp focus the disparities between those who work in the digital realm versus the analog realm, along with the opportunities available to each.

Perhaps one of the biggest obstructions to remote work (for those who are eligible) is trust. According to Global Workplace Analytics, while management experts have long encouraged “managing by results,” some managers still wonder “How will I know if they are working?” to which one could respond “How do you know they’re working now?” As the report points out, “managing by walking around” may not be the best approach in a global, mobile world. Indeed, worldwide, employees are not at their desks 50 to 60 percent of the time.



 

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Much of the appeal of remote work in recent years has been as a way to attract and retain top talent, but during the last recession employers implemented it for cost-saving reasons. Global Workplace Analytics reported in its Covid-19 forecast that, “Organizational leaders, desperate to shed costs, found they could do more with less real estate.” 

Furthermore, “A typical employer can save about $11,000/year for every person who works remotely half of the time. Employees can save between $2,500 and $4,000 a year (working remotely half the time) and even more if they are able to move to a less expensive area and work remotely full time.” In a startling statistic from this forecast, it was estimated that “work-from-home initiatives will save U.S. employers over $30 billion a day during the Covid-19 crisis.”

What do Employees Want?

Before the current crisis, Global Workplace Analytics says surveys repeatedly showed that “80% of employees want to work from home at least some of the time.” Even if working from home during a pandemic is not an ideal version of remote work, especially when parents are taking on schooling their children at home, it has given people a sense of what it could be. “The genie is out of the bottle and it’s not likely to go back in.”

The Pew Research Center has also examined the impacts of working remotely and found that the transition to telework has been relatively easy for many adults. “Most also say it’s been easy for them to meet deadlines and complete projects on time, get their work done without interruptions, and feel motivated to do their work.” These workers cite upsides such as flexibility about when they put in their hours and greater ease of balancing work with family responsibilities.

On the downside, of those who are new to telework, 65 percent feel less connected to their co-workers, compared with only 27% of seasoned workers who feel that way. According to Pew, some 64% of people who are now working at home are doing so because their office is closed, but the same percentage said they would feel uncomfortable returning to their workplace due to the potential for coronavirus exposure. 

Environmental Impact

The environmental impacts of remote work are significant and often consistent with the efforts of cities to reduce emissions and other negative environmental effects. Virtual Vocations points out that fewer commuters on the road means fewer emissions (and less consumption of fossil fuels). With an average commute time of 27 minutes, people who work remotely can spend nine fewer days in their car each year. 

Remote work also reduces paper usage. “Even one saved tree can remove up to 14.7 pounds of carbon dioxide from the air, cutting greenhouse gas emissions substantially over the course of a year.” Fewer or smaller brick and mortar workplaces and offices also mean reduced power consumption, though perhaps not as much as anticipated because commercial buildings are often designed for energy efficiency while private homes may not be.

Brave New World

It remains to be seen how events of the last year change the nature of work, but few deny that it will. Greater flexibility, autonomy, and ability to balance work-life responsibilities are options many have wished they had in their professional lives for years, and more people than ever have now had the opportunity to sample them. It is difficult to imagine the return to a strict 9 to 5 model once workplaces and schools reopen, and that’s probably a boon going forward.

Related Businesses

Animal Medical Center of Chandler

Pet Services

Animal Medical Center of Chandler

Chandler, AZ

A full service, AAHA Accredited, Feline Friendly, small animal veterinary clinic in Chandler AZ with veterinarians Dr...

Brent Gibson Classic Home Design

Architects

Brent Gibson Classic Home Design

Edmond, OK

My goal is to know my clients on a personal level, listen to their ideas, and create beautiful one-of-a-kind homes that their...

Williamson County Animal Hospital

Pet Services

Williamson County Animal Hospital

Franklin, TN

Exceptional pet care is our top priority here at Williamson County Animal Hospital. We have been caring for our community...

See More

Related Articles