In July 2023, The Guardian stated that the UK was the work-from-home capital of Europe. From a relatively small percentage in 2019 of 12% of employees in the country working from home to some degree to between 25% and 40% in 2022, there was clearly a change in the more consistent working structures and environments we once followed.
Whether you’re on one side of the spectrum that thinks working from home comes with disconnection or distraction, the other that thinks it comes with newfound freedom, or somewhere in between, there’s no denying that the UK workforce is more diverse than ever. But how exactly did we get here? Was it all the pandemic’s doing, or were there other hidden factors at play?
The COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted practically every facet of our lives. Society is inherently social, with our psychological well-being depending on community, social interaction, and interconnectedness. Thus, the minute we had to begin isolating ourselves to protect our physical health, we had to rethink the way we conducted our daily lives.
We had to think of creative ways to celebrate special events, find new ways to entertain ourselves, and, of course, figure out how we could still continue to make a living. After all, the social distancing mandates didn’t mean that we didn’t have to fork out rent or pay for all our essentials. With so much technology at our fingertips, companies and workers turned to the internet as a solution.
This played out almost like an experiment, with questions about how we could maintain company culture, host water cooler chats, conduct meetings effectively, and determine what platforms would best facilitate productive working while hunched over our computers. And it proved to be a remarkable experiment at that. We realised we could work just as hard, if not harder, find a better balance between work and leisure, hire talent across borders, as well as forget about the monotonous routine in a traditional office environment.
The Role of Tech in Modern Employment
Because nowadays we’re blessed with such advanced technology, we’re able to easily support remote work through a plethora of tools and platforms. We don’t have to worry about the previous barriers of time zones or geographic location, thanks to communication tools and project management software. While not all industries can provide a primarily at-home working environment, many of them can.
For example, marketing teams can collaborate and message their team members in real time using communication platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams, while HR teams can conduct the entire recruitment process remotely using job boards, talent pipeline tools, and resume screening platforms. Just about every aspect of remote working can be handled using modern tech tools, and the fact that we’re still advancing means we’ll likely have the infrastructure to create even more sophisticated solutions.
Desire to Break Free of the Rigid 9-to-5
The employers who started to find merit in autonomy and flexibility and offer it in their workplaces attracted many talented employees and freelancers looking for a change. Employees sought out higher job satisfaction, especially younger Millennials and the Gen Z population, who often champion freedom and purpose over classic values like stability and long-term growth. As more and more Gen Zers enter the workforce, they’ll continue to emphasise these values. The new generation of workers are digital natives who are well-exposed to immediate results, dynamic workplace cultures, and a gig economy, so we’re no longer prioritising conformity.
For a Better Work-Life Balance
Although you might be among those who don’t think so, remote work is a privilege. Statistically, as you climb up the higher education hierarchy, the more likely you are to have access to remote jobs. And with a work-from-wherever job comes a whole bunch of perks. You can make a home-cooked lunch at noon, spend time with your dog, check out the enticing deals being offered on online casinos on a break, and enjoy the peace and quiet that comes with being away from a busy environment. It allows workers to tailor their workspace to suit them best, rather than have to insert themselves into a highly monitored environment and be “always on.” For some, there’s an element of accountability with that, but for others, it can actually counteract productivity, doing little to benefit themselves or the business they’re working for.
The Economic Considerations
Last but not least are the economic benefits we’re seeing with remote work. The pandemic caused the biggest economic crisis we’ve seen in the past century, which naturally prompted people to invest in future-proofing their businesses and their careers. People started to become more digitally literate to keep up with those born into the digital age, and some began the process of switching industries altogether. Others adopted gig work to diversify their incomes and even become entrepreneurs in the hopes of capitalising on their passions—all with the internet to support them.
In turn, this online-centred workforce provided plenty of cost savings for businesses, with reduced overhead costs on aspects like expensive office spaces and employee-related expenses. Employees, meanwhile, no longer had to spend money on gas or public transit costs nor allocate funds for lunch. These savings on both sides can mean employees receive more money to invest in employee development programs, technology infrastructure, and well-being initiatives to retain workers. Meanwhile, employees can build better emergency funds and use their extra money for their own professional development, giving them that solid foundation for potential income growth.
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