Industry Professionals Overcoming COVID
Remote Work

The Shift to Remote Work: How COVID-19 Has Changed the Workplace

During the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work became one of the reasons resilient companies survived the mass shutdowns. But according to research by Stanford University economics professor Nicholas Bloom, half of workers simply won't be able to work from home in 2022. The other half will be divided into a small percentage of those who can work from home indefinitely, while most others will work under a hybrid mix of remote and in-office work.

Work from home opportunities will continue in the coming years as part of a new norm, but not the majority. A trend is developing of hybrid workers moving further away from heavily populated areas, seeking larger homes and longer commutes. One of the top advantages of remote work is it allows people to move around and live where they choose.


Technologies You Need for a Remote Work Infrastructure

Remote work is best organized and communicated through a cloud-based network. That means you'll need a virtual private network (VPN) and an in-house or outsourced IT team with a data center or an internet service provider. At some point, you'll likely need tech support, which is why many companies outsource to a managed services provider (MSP). Here are the other technologies businesses effectively utilize for remote work that make them able to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic:


Cloud Platforms

The cloud is the story of today's business and consumer culture. It's where social networks are in the spotlight and commercial transactions take place. It's also the primary underlying technology behind remote work and other reasons for anytime/anywhere access to a network. The reason businesses have flocked to the cloud is due to cost-efficiency, easy scalability and greater convenience.

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Virtual and Unified Communications

Virtualization is a common technology integrated with cloud-based infrastructure that allows for a wide range of seamless digital experiences. Combined with unified communications, which facilitates integration of multiple channels into one platform, this solution boosts productivity and improves collaboration.


Disaster Recovery and Data Backup Plan

If your company suffers a cybersecurity breach or a power outage, critical data can be damaged or lost. That's why you need to regularly back up your data in multiple places, so you can easily resume normal business activity. Your disaster recovery plan should list the steps to take during an emergency. Backup power generators and backup servers are useful for maintaining business continuity.


Cybersecurity Layers

The more mobile devices that connect with your network, the more you need 24/7 network monitoring software that detects suspicious activity. The strongest cybersecurity systems can still be breached by hackers, so you need to build as many layers of security as possible to protect your data.

If remote workers use their own devices, you'll need to set policies on how to use company data. You should use cybersecurity tools to register and monitor devices allowed to access your network. Other things you need for protection are antivirus software, firewalls, and encryption.


Business Apps

Various business apps are available to empower your digital business activity. Consider apps for cloud platforms such as Office 365, WordPress and Dropbox. These platforms can be accessed by anyone on your team at any time to conduct business affairs.


Mobile or Desktop Devices

The widespread professional use of mobile devices continues in the era of increasing remote work. People can now do work on their notepads while they travel. The bring-your-own-device (BYOD) model had already become widespread prior to the pandemic. It's an excellent strategy for cutting technology costs, but it requires more robust cybersecurity. For remote workers who have developed home offices, desktops are still widely preferred.


Project Management Tools

Chat tools are helpful for real-time communication when a project is in progress. Sometimes a project manager needs to make quick adjustments to a project. Broader project management platforms exist to organize work assignments and schedules. Some of the most commonly used project management tools include Asana and Azure DevOps.


Working From Home?

Here are 12 challenges with remote work and how to overcome them:

  1. Real-time collaboration and communication - Remote workers should be available to interact with supervisors and coworkers digitally during a scheduled work period. Zoom, Slack and Microsoft Teams can keep a workforce connected on the same page.
  2. Lonely remote work experience due to isolation - Remote workers should be encouraged to pursue social activity outside of work.
  3. Inability to disconnect from work environment - A well-organized home office environment can make a remote worker feel more connected to their employer.
  4. Household distractions that reduce productivity - Finding a quiet place in the home while working is helpful for those with mobile devices. Turning off the TV, a smartphone and other technology that makes noise ensures less interruptions.
  5. Dealing with people in different time zones - Use file-sharing services when working with a remote team scattered around the world.
  6. Maintaining motivation to stay productive - Write down long-term goals and post them where they can be visible as a daily reminder.
  7. Taking time off occasionally - Everyone needs to take a break sometimes, which managers need to understand, expect and plan for workers.
  8. Accessing reliable wireless internet - Make sure remote workers have sufficient connections and are equipped with appropriate apps.
  9. Falling into poor habits that reduce efficiency - Workers can give themselves reminders on their phones about their work schedule. It's also important for physical and mental well-being to consume nutritious food.
  10. Managing work schedules effectively - Set specific work hours that are comfortable and keep the schedule consistent.
  11. Casual approach to work - Instead of doing work in pajamas, remote workers should treat work at home the same as work in an office.
  12. Failing to network effectively - Professionals can stay in touch with their industries by attending virtual events and embracing professional relationships.


Conclusion

Many digital nomads are relocating to more rural states where spending power is greater and taxes are lower. But remote workers and their employers face major challenges to address and overcome in the next few years. The key for a successful remote work environment is for skilled people and modern technology to work together.


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Working from Home
Remote Work

Working From Home: Pros and Cons of the New Shift to Remote Infrastructure

Remote Infrastructure Was Already on the Rise

Before the crises that started in 2020 and bled into 2021, remote work infrastructure was already on the rise. BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), DaaS (Device as a Service), and cloud computing were already changing the game. Employees could either bring their own laptops, or they could use options secured by a company willing to “rent” mobile devices at a monthly fee.

Regardless which particular remote infrastructure was secured, employees could work from anywhere, companies saved money on overhead by either renting hardware, or outsourcing it to employees entirely, and costs associated with the maintenance as well as expense that goes along with site rental became notably smaller. There’s a financial incentive for businesses to go the “remote” route, allowing workers to get their duties done on their own time, and in their own residence.

Accordingly, when the pandemic panic forced the issue, some companies were already there. Other companies had no choice but to justify associated costs, and that meant leaning into the expense reduction that comes with remote infrastructure. So, it should be no surprise to anyone that remote infrastructure is here to stay.

The first glimmers of such infrastructure began in the late eighties with the internet, less tech-savvy employees began being involved with such production models by the early 2000s. Just before the 2020/2021 crisis, remote workers were at an all-time high. Now, 45% of all workers operate in some sort of remote capacity, and that number will likely grow. So, the question becomes: what are the pros and cons of this operational environment? It’s not all positives, but the negatives seem to be less impacting than the advantages. Let’s explore both pros and cons here.

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Pro: Commute Elimination Impacts Motor Accidents, Cost, and Time

If you’ve only got a 5-mile commute, that’s 10 miles round trip. This comes out to 50 miles a week. Barring any holidays, for the 52 weeks in a year, that’s 2,600 miles. If you’re dealing with 80-mile round-trip commute five days a week, that’s 20,800 miles a year.

Cutting 2,600 to 20,8000 miles from your daily commute every year severely reduces your cost of living. As of 2021, the IRS estimates cost-per-mile deductions at 56 cents. Wear-and-tear, fuel, maintenance, insurance, depreciation, and incidentals factor into that cost. So that’s a collateral savings of, potentially, between $1,456 and $11,648 a year, or $121.33 to $970.66 per month.

Essentially, you’ll make more money in travel savings alone. Plus, you get the time back. A 10-mile round-trip commute will take 10 minutes to an hour a day, depending on traffic. A 40-mile round-trip commute could take anywhere from 80 minutes to 3 hours a day. Altogether, you reclaim that time, you cut associated travel costs, and you are safer from potential traffic accidents.


Con: Incidental Burnout can Impact Employee Productivity

The biggest con of at-home work has to do with employees pushing themselves too hard. They want to get their workload done every day, and managers think they can keep piling it on because employee A is so productive.

On-site, employees will slack before and after breaks, and procrastinate during hours that are supposed to be productive. At home, employees tend to get as much work done as they can to be free later in the week. This is good for the company but can burn out an employee fast.

There’s a balance to be achieved between pushing too hard, and not hard enough. If you’re not self-disciplined, getting the balance right can be hard. When you’re your own boss, nobody is as hard on you, or easy on you, as you.


Pro: A Clear Reduction in Stress, and More Flexibility

Without a long commute involving lost time, fuel, and vehicular value, you can get more things done in your day. Also, if you can get work done on your own schedule, you can shuffle community and family duties to match what you need. Altogether, these things represent a clear reduction in stress overall.
Con: Fewer Daily Human Interactions and Movement, Impacting Health
Humans are meant to be social, and when social interaction wanes, that can be bad for health overall. Also, at-home workers have no real prerogative to get out and exercise, meaning there’s a danger of sedentary health impact. If you’re working from home, discipline yourself to get out in public as much as you comfortably can, and to exercise daily.


Pro: An Expanded Opportunity for Unique Exercise

On the other hand, because employees have more time and flexibility, they can pursue more diverse means of exercise. Hiking, biking, surfing, climbing–these things are much more tangible if you’re working from home, than if you’re trying to juggle 1 to 10 hours of commute and 40 to 80 hours of work a week at a central location.


Con: A Greater Reliance on Technology Overall

Those working remotely need electricity, warmth, the internet, and bandwidth. While such costs tend to inhere to a household anyway, and are still less than a daily commute, there is an expense involved, and a reliance to consider. If local internet goes down, employee must find a coffee shop, library, or other nearby Wi-Fi access point.


Pro: Greater Pay, Availability of Staff, Better Life and Family Management

Employees save money in time and travel, so that means remote employees make more money. They’re also more available, because they’re working from home, and flexibility means managing life issues and those related to family is easier, so they’re often more satisfied with their job.


Con: Notable Levels of Loneliness, Increased Electricity and Utility Bills

Employees who don’t have a family and work alone experience more loneliness. Also, as mentioned earlier, electricity costs still apply, and employees using their own heat and water at home rather than at the office have to foot the bill.


The Pros Tend to Outweigh the Cons for Many Businesses

If you’re a sole-proprietor, or you’re a business looking to outsource office space using remote infrastructure, the pros do tend to overcome the cons–but there are cons. Those listed here just scratch the surface, though they do tend to define the industry overall. Figure out which pros and cons are specific to your business and see whether remote work is best for you. One thing is sure: the trend is here to stay, and it’s likely only going to grow.


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