Work-life balance has become essential, now more than ever. Personal life needs to be given equal, if not more, importance than your professional life. Even companies are trying to keep their employees satisfied by providing them with a certain level of flexibility in their work and office hours by becoming more open to the idea of implementing different methods of working. One of the most effective ways to create that balance is by adopting and adapting to the concept of remote work.
What is Remote Work?
Working a 9-5 job while seated in a rather uncomfortable office chair in a formal setting all day, every day can get mundane and monotonous very quickly. But what if there was a system that allows you to work remotely, without having to travel to the office every day and enjoy working from your personal, comfortable space?
Remote work is a recently growing concept of enabling employees to work from anywhere without the constraints of an office holding them down. It comes with a generous dose of flexibility in schedule and work hours and aims to create a better balance between personal and professional lives. It is slowly and steadily changing the way we work. With the help of technology, we can stay virtually connected with the rest of the work and be our productive best.
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Work from Home vs Remote Work
The success of work from home (WFH) in the current scenario has raised the question of whether an office space is really required for work to be carried out. As the term suggests, work from home is about working from the comfort of your home and not having to commute to work in an office. It saves time and money which is otherwise wasted in travelling and also reduces distraction and stress.
On the other hand, remote work doesn’t just confine you to your house. It allows you to work part-time in an office setting, working remotely entirely or work remotely from different locations every day. Whether it’s a café or a co-working space, you should have the flexibility to remote work from anywhere.
These concepts are growing in popularity, given its many perks and benefits. The biggest advantages
are that remote work provides ample flexibility to create a suitable work-life balance that lets employees spend more quality time with family and friends as well go beyond the restriction of geographical boundaries to hire and work for global companies.
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Role of Technology in Remote Work
With your business growing, you will be reaching out to hire remote teams in different parts of the world and your company’s visibility in the world. Technology plays a vital role to stay connected with these teams carrying out remote work for your company. These employees tend to follow flexible schedules based on time zones, personal preferences, kind of work, etc. A strong and stable wi-fi connection, a functioning laptop, tablet or computer and you are good to go! Moreover, it is easier to establish communication through emails and phone calls. There is no obligation to stay dressed in formal attire while conducting remote work unless your job absolutely calls for it.
Today, technology has helped bridge the gap between companies and their employees. It has brought the world closer together and at the same time, helped companies expand their business in order to reach remote parts of the world. Technology plays a pivotal role in the functioning of remote teams. Here are some ways technology is and can improve remote work:
● Audio and video conferencing
Remote work sees no geographical boundaries, making it easier to conduct meetings and conferences. Audio and video conferencing tools help you in saving money on time and travel and maintain effective communication between companies, candidates and clients.
● Instant messaging
Sometimes, emails do not get you responses as quickly as you may want them. In such situations, instant messaging is a boon for remote work that gets you replies in real-time. So no excuses for any delay!
● Better work-life balance
There is no doubt that remote work helps in saving time and money. Also, it helps establish schedules that are suitable for the employer and employee, creating a better work-life balance and allowing employees to spend more time with their families.
● Easier to keep track of time and work
There are time-tracking devices available for employees and employers. These are to make sure the resources are utilised in an optimum manner, and employees can maintain productivity.
● Cloud-based data and storage
Cloud-based network and data storage applications have entirely revolutionised the workspace. It is so much easier to share documents and projects internally and externally with this advancement in technology. The sync also allows for quick and easy data backup that can be accessed anytime.
Fully Remote Teams vs Flexible Remote Teams
Remote work is a broad category that encapsulates different methods of working as well as the nature of teams employed to carry out the work. When a company does not have a central office or wishes not to establish an office in the region the remote team is being employed, everyone tends to work from their individual spaces, making it a fully remote team. On the other hand, flexible remote teams are the ones who get to work from home or work from anywhere for a few days during the week, and the remaining days are spent in an office. This system of remote work uses the same communication tools as fully remote employees since at least one of the remote workers is not in office at the same time as others.
Building Relations Between Companies and Remote Workers
While working with remote employees, what is required is a steady flow of communication. This will help in building a sense of trust and transparency between the employer and employees. All forms of communication for remote work exist in the virtual world so it is important for employers and employees to take the extra effort and get to know each other, making it easier to understand expectations. Creating such a bond with remote employees leads to entrusting them with more independence.
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Benefits of Remote Work
● Greater Flexibility = Greater Productivity
Contrary to popular belief, flexibility in work hours does garner better productivity. Remote workers tend to be more creative and productive when they enjoy autonomy in location and work hours. Without the need to commute to work and lesser distractions, remote workers tend to feel more in control of their work environment and do not necessarily need to stick to a fixed schedule. With the work hours of 9-5 is rendered null and void in most cases, providing the freedom to remote workers to work when they feel their creative best.
● Global Talent Meet Global Companies
Working remotely takes job opportunities and vacancies on a global level. Companies can now connect with candidates situated in any part of the world, hence having a better chance of hiring the best person for the job. On the other hand, job seekers are no more restricted due to geographical boundaries and can apply for remote jobs in global companies. Today, job searching sites are creating such avenues for companies and candidates by providing various opportunities. It makes it possible for niche jobs that can be done remotely to be made available to job seekers.
● Feasible for Employer and Employee
Another benefit of remote work is how cost-effective it proves to be for the employer and employee. Remote workers enjoy location independence, so do not need to take into account travel expenses or the hours wasted sitting in traffic. At the same time, employers reduce all office-related costs such as rent, electricity, supplies since only a few or no employees will be working out of office space.
● Increase in Employee Retention
One of the biggest tasks for any company while growing is employee retention. Searching and hiring a new employee can be a strenuous process. A lot of time and resources are invested in finding, interviewing, hiring and training the new employee(s). Remote work has resulted in the rate of employee retention since they are more satisfied with their jobs and wish to stick around in a company that makes them comfortable and provides ample opportunities and flexibility.
● Diversity in the Workplace
Hiring top talent from different cities, countries, and backgrounds means building diverse teams. It provides a competitive advantage, makes it easier to communicate the brand with the local audiences and offers equal opportunity to one and all. Diversity brings with it a lot of untapped talent and helps companies explore new avenues and opportunities.
Jobs That Can be Done Remotely
The concept of remote work is becoming more and more popular with time. As technology continues to advance, more industries seem to be adopting remote work as part of their business model. Today, remote work seems to exist in almost every industry - healthcare, law, education, information technology, finance, content management - you name, and there is a possibility of it getting done remotely to a great extent or maybe even completely! Local networks and online job portals are leaving no stone unturned in bringing to light some great remote work opportunities that transcend boundaries to connect candidates and companies all around the world.
Factors to Consider While Hiring Someone for Remote Work
Hiring remote workers involves a lot of planning. From searching and identifying prospective candidates to hiring and training these remote employees, there is much work that goes into this entire process. Here are some factors you must consider as an employee while hiring someone for remote work:
● Communication and collaborative tools
● Compliance risks involved
● Level of flexibility
● Time zones and work schedules
● Combination of qualifications, experience and soft skills
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How is KaamWork a Feasible Option When Searching for Remote Work?
KaamWork is an online job portal that enables companies to identify and hire the right talent for their roles anywhere in the world as well as allow job seekers to apply for vacancies they are eligible for with the freedom to work from anywhere in the world. Given the current times when the concept of remote work is becoming more and more popular, especially in the younger generation, KaamWork comes as a blessing in disguise that offers numerous opportunities of remote work across a plethora of industries present in different parts of the world. The online job portal also happens to be a feasible method of applying for such remote jobssince it does charge a registration or application fee - it’s completely free of cost! All you have to do is create your profile and scroll through the various options available and pick the ones that take your interest. The entire process is safe, straightforward and streamlined to ensure companies and candidates find the perfect match.
KaamWork replaces the concept of remote work with the better-defined concept of ‘work from anywhere’. It connects job seekers and prospects with global companies and lets employees hire the best talent for the job or positions and break geographical barriers by promoting work from anywhere.
Conclusion
The world is evolving, and so are our ways of working. Remote work is making it easier for companies to expand their business without having to worry about additional expenses of office rent, resources, etc., and at the same time, be more connected with their remote workers with the help of technology. Such a hybrid model that lets you work from anywhere for 2-3 days and work from an office for the remaining 2-3 days can help create many new avenues. The concept of remote is here to stay for a long time and on the way to becoming the new normal.