Remote Work Habits Change Definition of “Typical” Office
Posted on Thu, Aug 18, 2011
By Rachel Sullivan
The common perception of an office environment is one filled with busy employees found at their desks between the hours of 9 and 5. However, this may soon change as the need for a human presence in the office disappears.
It may be a bit premature to assume future offices will consist solely of telepresence robots, but exactly how necessary is it for employees to be physically present in the office? Flexible working conditions already allow women to achieve a better work-life balance, while still encouraging productivity. This, though, is actually true for all employees. With telecommuting options, shared workspaces and soaring gas prices, many companies are adopting work-from-home policies. GigaOm highlighted a 2011 study which found that 58 percent of U.K. workers think the offices of today will no longer exist in 2021.
Today’s business world is truly global. Workers communicate by e-mail, chat or phone, thereby drastically reducing the need for human interaction. Companies taking an agile approach to the workplace encourage trust, productivity and results, rather than accumulation of hours at a desk. Working remotely can actually lead to increased productivity in less time, as interruptions are reduced and commuting time is eliminated.
Co-working offers a great compromise for those who enjoy the freedom of working from home, but crave a piece of the office structure. It offers numerous benefits such as inspired creativity, increased networking opportunities and non-constraining office structure. Already showing signs of change, today’s typical office environment will not be typical for long.
Do you work remotely? Do you feel more productive out of the office?