Remote Work Policies in the Future of Business Comm 305

Remote work has undergone major shifts in markets during the pandemic and the post pandemic job market. With many employers still asking themselves if the shift to remote work is good for business? In this reflection of remote work, we will identify what remote work is, its effectiveness in society and the job market, and the past, present and future view of what this work could accomplish. Finally, seeing the potential of the benefits of hybrid opportunities.

For assistance in narrowing the research topic down, I utilized the information provided in the article “Work-from-home is here to stay: Call for flexibility in post-pandemic work policies” by Smite, Brede Moe, Hildrum, Gonzalez-Huerta and Mendez. In this article, they surveyed over 30,000 American workers, and were able to identify five reasons for the shift in favor to working from home, otherwise known as remote work. These five reasons include “better-than-expected WFH experiences, new investments in physical and human capital that enable WFH, the change in attitude and stigmatisation of remote workers, lingering concerns about crowds and contagion risks, and a pandemic-driven surge in technological innovations that support WFH.” (Smite, Brede Moe, Hildrum, Gonzalez-Huerta, & Mendez, 2023). The article further discusses the main questions that arise regarding the ideas of working from home or remote work, thus I will utilize the information provided to discuss the importance of remote work policies in our modern times.

                The second more secular or popular press article regarding working from home or remote work comes from LinkedIn, a site focused on the changing tides of employment and a major networking site. In an article by Rolando R, he discusses in his article Remote Work Evolution: Pandemic, Hybrid, Future what the landscape of remote work has transformed to become since the pandemic struck. This article discusses the pandemics role in bolstering the rise of remote work in the United States, discussing in depth the reasons to adapt to this style of employment and its benefits, along with some noted challenges. Rolando R further discusses the potential for hybrid work, and what the future of the job market looks like thus far.

                This topic is worth exploring as I became a remote worker during the pandemic, and am still a remote worker at this moment. The pros and cons of remote work are not lost on me, as I am navigating how to best handle my work-life balance, especially when work is in my life and vice versa. A critical analysis of whether remote work is right in all instances is what I plan to research. Furthermore, remote work is not necessarily right for everyone, and many jobs are not ready to hire people who have not held a prior remote work, or work from home job in the past.

                As I reflect upon the journey of study in this class, along with completing further research regarding the field in which I currently am employed, I can’t help but wonder how often I have applied what was learned in the class to my life through out the semester, without even realizing it. Whether it be through reviewing my own managerial styles, or how I communicate with those around me without allowing emotions to run high and cloud my judgement. Especially in context to openness versus closedness and how I respond to issues I the workplace, and who I vent my frustrations to. I used to vent to coworkers, but this just created a culture of negativity, now I share with my mentor/director so that my voice is heard but a constructive outcome can be achieved. Thought I work remote, I am still able to contact my mentor or manager through email or Microsoft Teams to discuss concerns without judgement.

References

R., R. (2023, November 8). Remote work evolution: Pandemic, Hybrid, future. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/remote-work-evolution-pandemic-hybrid-future-rolando-rosas-mchlc

Smite, D., Brede Moe, N., Hildrum, J., Gonzalez-Huerta, J., & Mendez, D. (2023, January). Work-from-home is here to stay: Call for flexibility in post-pandemic work policies. Journal of Systems and Software, 195. Retrieved from (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016412122200228X)