Ever more people are working from home. In an experiment by Nicholas Bloom, remote workers worked 9.5 % longer and were 13% more productive, which poses the question about remote working possibly taking over offices completely in the future. If this considerable increase in time spent working and worker productivity could be replicated across the board, then you’d be forgiven for asking why won’t remote working take over offices? Such a change is unlikely to happen in the near future, but the popularity of working from home has risen exponentially in the past few years despite companies such as IBM and Reddit banning the practice entirely.

Why work remote?
Flexibility. Technology has allowed people to remote to tailor their career to fit lifestyle, meaning they can do more of the things they want in their personal time and be happier whilst doing it. Who actually likes commuting to work anyway? Mothers with young children can spend more quality time at home with their family and still get the same amount of work done without missing their children growing up.

Young professionals, too, can travel whilst working, another increasingly popular trend that allows workers to enjoy more of their social life without sacrificing their career opportunities. Graduates and young professionals without the funds to move to expensive areas such as San Francisco, but have the skills to do the job, also benefit from remote working as they aren’t priced out of positions they’re capable of filling. Employers can’t complain either; with a whole workforce working remotely, they wouldn’t need to pay rent for office space and all the bills that come with it.

Will the office survive?
For the time being, at least, it’s difficult to see the office space becoming redundant. Some people just can’t bring themselves to work properly at home, with a sizeable chunk of today’s workforce admitting that there are simply too many distractions (or more enjoyable activities) at home that will prevent their bosses getting the best out of them.

There’s also a fair argument to be had about the importance of face-to-face interaction that is lost by remote working. Humans are social creatures by nature, and some of us still relish being away from home for a few hours every day and being able to casually chat with colleagues or grab a coffee together during lunch. It’s hard to imagine the office becoming redundant any time soon, although it’s certainly conceivable that with future generations bringing changing attitudes to work with them, the office of the future may simply become the home.

If you’re looking for the ideal solution to your remote working needs, then why not contact us today to see if we can help?