Going Remote: Work In The Age Of Decentralization

In the post-Covid world of work, many businesses have had to make tough decisions about restructuring, downsizing and overall strategy. One key development that is clearly here to stay is the increased emphasis on remote work. In this article, I will break down the benefits that both employers and employees can enjoy when working remotely and also touch on the increased opportunities that decentralization can offer.

Benefits Of Remote Work

With many companies encouraging employees to work from home to prevent the spread of coronavirus, there has been growing evidence to suggest that remote work can increase employee productivity and motivation. Studies show that companies are seeing an increase in productivity after offering work-from-home options to their employees. Creating a flexible work environment at home that cuts out arduous commutes, strict dress codes and the need for maintained office space clearly works for many professionals. 

There have been signs that this shift has been on the horizon for some time, but studies indicate that the pandemic sped up the digital transformation of many businesses by around seven years, demonstrating just how adaptable companies and employees can be. And while it’s clear that working from home comes with several benefits for employees, it’s worth noting that there are many benefits of working remotely for employers, too.

Working outside the office enables managers and employers to delegate more efficiently and can alleviate the urge to micromanage while also allowing more time for higher-level staff to focus on the big picture. Creating a chain of decentralized command can empower employees as they are given more autonomy, and it also frees up time and responsibilities for executive staff. With a staff of remote workers, operations have already been decentralized through withdrawal from the office environment, so further delegation comes as a natural step forward.

Hiring International Employees

Another major change since the move to remote working is the increased capacity that employers now have for remote hiring. When bound to a physical office space, headhunting can be limited by location, with employees plucked from local areas or expected to make long-distance moves. Now, with the need for in-person office spaces feeling like a thing of the past, employers have a borderless pool of talent to build a team from, with an ability to cast their net wider in the search for strong hires. In fact, the number of companies hiring remote employees has never been higher!

Streamlining The Remote And International Hiring Process

Even with the freedoms that remote working offers, sourcing great hires across borders can be challenging at the best of times, and employers shouldn’t have to go it alone. There are now top-tier solutions that connect employers with international talent directly, providing a user-friendly platform to manage contracts, documents, taxes, regulatory compliance, payments and more.

Companies that are considering going back to in-person work should definitely reconsider this decision. A recent Microsoft study shows that 41% of employees are considering leaving their current employer — their main reason being they can now work remotely and have more options. Retention of talent is at high stakes here, and remote work should not be seen as a perk or benefit but as a best practice and embedded as part of the culture.

One of the big questions around remote hiring is where to source and find candidates. The first step to take is to publish job openings with a tag or categorization stating that it is remote. Of course there are a number of jobs that can’t be performed remotely, but a vast majority can. There are platforms like Torre that are specialized in remote work postings and candidate sourcing where companies can expand their reach beyond LinkedIn. 

To be able to appeal to remote workers, companies must build a strong online brand and presence. Having up-to-date profiles on social media is paramount so that workers can find something to relate to and aspire to become. They must also display a set of values and virtues that make them attractive and define their culture. People do not buy products or services — they buy better versions of themselves. Therefore, companies need to portray that to aspiring candidates. 

The advent of remote work that we are living in is ripe with opportunity, so it only makes sense to give yourself every advantage to capitalize on it as best you can. The only question is, will you stay away from this trend, or will you fully embrace this new world?

Original Article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/09/27/going-remote-work-in-the-age-of-decentralization/?sh=337d4c6850a6