For the uninitiated, remote work involves people working from a location other than the employers’ central office. Locations would include co-working spaces, an employee’s home, or any other place apart from the head office or its campus.
This concept of work gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why an increasing number of companies are resorting to remote working
Remote working has benefits for the employer as well as the employee.
It has an immense contribution towards increasing the productivity of employees through reduced commuting times and stress. It also facilitates a flexible lifestyle for employees, bettering their health.
Also, due to virtual working, continuity in business is observed. Operating costs and overhead expenses like canteen, electricity, transport, etc…are controlled. Hiring expenses like relocation costs get eliminated.
Sectors Adopting Remote Working Culture
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, many sectors underwent massive transformations in the way they do business. And this also affected their perceptions about the way in which they work.
As remote working gained traction, many sectors have resorted to adopting this concept. According to FlexJobs, eight career sectors noted an increase in remote working culture by at least 45%. They include:
1. Travel and hospitality
The pandemic hit this industry the most, as worldwide, travel and tourism saw a sharp decline.
2. Event planning
With most events being canceled or postponed, during the pandemic, and a shift towards virtual events gaining popularity, remote working in event planning has increased manifold.
3. Medical Research
Positions like line managers, clinical trial assistants, and clinical research associates have mostly gone on to working in a remote fashion.
4. Non-profit and Philanthropy
Assisting operations involved in charities, foundations, or non-profit organizations, no longer require people to go to offices. They can comfortably operate from home or in co-working spaces.
5. News and Journalism
An increasing number of journalists and employees involved in delivering news have resorted to online writing and information sharing.
6. Communications
The use of work collaboration tools and video conferring shot up manifold during the last three years. Emails, chats, and intranets were already popular from long. And hence, remote working in communications
7. Legal
Drafting policies, and contracts and handling legal matters remotely have become easier with virtual meetings.
All of these and many other functions require a good lawyer, but not necessarily their presence.
The above seven fields are the fastest growing fields that have adopted working remotely. Apart from these, many other sectors like customer support, banking, finance, arts, and entertainment too have increased remote working.
Sources:
https://fortune.com/2022/08/28/fastest-growing-industries-remote-work/?fbclid=IwAR1VaTzW8ft_OVWubtJgALYY9UEdYXtFtQbcdUq8Go86NIaJcODbJr2Gzik
https://www.vmware.com/topics/glossary/content/remote-work.html
