By Ashley Campbell
2020 has seen many of our jobs completely change. The coronavirus and Covid-19 pandemic has wrought havoc with businesses operating in all sorts of industries. In order to comply with government guidelines and restrictions, many businesses have now had to switch to having their staff work on a remote basis, as they are unable to have everyone operating with a two meters distance between them at all times in office spaces and other commercial premises. In some ways, this is great. Working from home is seen as desirable and preferable by many employees. It cuts out expensive and time consuming commutes that have proven bad for employee health. It cuts out rushed lunch breaks with low quality packed lunches, as staff can prepare their lunch at home in their own kitchens. It also proves beneficial for the business in terms of profit margins, as it cuts out the costs and overheads associated with renting commercial property. But is remote work here to stay and could your job become permanently remote? Here are a few pieces of information that could help you determine this!
Ask Your Employer Their Intentions
The easiest and most trustworthy way to determine whether your job is going to become permanently remote is to ask your employer yourself. If they have a plan, they may be able to provide you with a straightforward yes or no answer to your question, which will allow you to prepare yourself for the change, or - if you are unhappy with the change - you can start seeking employment elsewhere. Nobody other than your employer will have a 100% certain answer as to whether your position will remain remote or not.
Look at What Other Companies Are Doing
If you notice that many competitor companies or similar companies in your field or industry are switching to operating on a permanently remote basis, chances are your company could be heading in a similar direction. Watching developments will give you a good indication of what the general trend in your field is. For example, This Company has developed blood tests that doctors can carry out outside of clinics, meaning that the trend towards staying home rather than venturing out seems to be continuing, even in the field of healthcare itself.
Consider Whether It Is Benefiting Your Company
If remote work is benefiting your company, chances are it’s here to stay. If the company is generating the same sales and profits, but has fewer outgoings due to remote work cutting rent and overhead costs, chances are the owners and managers will be content with things continuing this way. If the company is constantly facing security threats, data breaches and other issues, it’s likely they will be working to get back on site as soon as possible.
Remote work suits some people. It doesn’t suit others. Either way, you’re going to want to know whether you’ll be continuing to work remotely or not. Hopefully, some of the above advice will help you to get some answers!
