From WFH to Remote Working - how will this shift impact the future of the workplace?

During this bizarre chapter of our lives, I’ve been keen to engage with others and get their thoughts on this new way of living and working.

Whilst it’s pretty evident that, as a whole, the current climate can be pretty daunting, I thought that it’s important to highlight some of the positives that this situation can pose. Specifically, I’d like to share some of my candidates’ thoughts on some good realisations that have resulted from this pandemic.

Adapting to remote working

The majority of us have had to adapt and embrace remote working for the first time, making full use of our digital devices and applications, particularly those that give us the means to reach the highest level of virtual social connection possible, such as Zoom and Skype. We have all gradually begun to get used to these ways of connecting and, therefore, working, and whilst, as I can imagine like most of us, I’m aching to return to the vibrant office culture, some of my candidates have given me a different perspective which I can certainly agree with.

A positive impact on business

For example, a Systems Engineer commented that he is embracing working from home. Due to several factors, he has found his productivity output to be more efficient, positively impacting his business. This shows that, for some of us, not having a physical office doesn’t necessarily impede success – and from my first-hand experience at Saragossa and liaising with some of our clients, I can certainly agree with this. Maybe it’s that extra hour of sleep that we’re getting every morning that does the trick.

New opportunities

However, this situation has also revealed new opportunities to us. For example, moving forward, why should firms restrict themselves to top-quality talent from their geographical location alone? Why not remove this geographical barrier and aim to hire and work with talent across the globe?

Some companies that adopted remote working and hiring before this outbreak are evidence of its success. For instance, Fire Engine RED, who have provided marketing, technology and data solutions to the education market 100% remotely since 2001, disclosed that “being able to hire the very best people without having to consider geographical restraints is key to our company culture – and our clients’ continuing success.”

Increased flexibility

Additionally, as some of my candidates have expressed, “remote working also means that we have the flexibility to relocate and have countless opportunities to find our dream job”. It also promises real innovation, “we could expand our businesses by utilising resources from geographies worldwide”. Therefore, if we follow the proper procedures, onboarding and empowering teams remotely could be a huge success for the majority of us.

Finding positives in the negatives

As with most things in life, we can always find a positive in a negative situation. At Saragossa, through careful thought and research, we have composed a great guide to remote onboarding that has already helped many of our clients. If this sounds of interest, please get in touch so we can arrange a chat about how we can help you update your practices.