Remote working has taken the world by storm, and experts tell us that the change is here to stay. Going forward, a hybrid workforce could be the key to better productivity, business continuity, and cost-savings, but team leaders need to be able to trust their remote staff.

According to a study commissioned by LogMeIn from Forrester, the trust just isn’t there yet.

The report notes that the pandemic has highlighted the potential value of remote work for many employees, with 83 per cent saying they’re more likely to stick with their employer if permitted to work flexibly. Around 60 per cent of team members also said they’re willing to accept a lower rate of pay to remain in a flexible environment.

Unfortunately, decision-makers and leaders still don’t feel entirely comfortable with the idea of a remote workforce. Around 56 per cent of employees said they’re more productive when working remote, and 61 per cent said they feel they get more done in their 8-hour day when remote. However, only five per cent of decision-makers agreed that remote workers are more productive, and 70 per cent said they feel staff in the office are more trustworthy.

Learning to Trust the Remote Workforce

Most experts agree that remote work will be necessary moving forward, even if only a portion of employees are operating away from the office. Unfortunately, Forrester and LogMeIn’s research indicates that business leaders still aren’t fully ready to make the shift to “anywhere work”. Despite a clear lack of trust, LogMeIn notes that hybrid work environments will be essential for a range of reasons. However, companies will need to focus on the right things, such as:

  • Employee wellbeing is essential: As demand for better employee wellbeing grows, 62 per cent of staff say they’re happier working remote. Currently, only 44 per cent of staff feel their organisation is effective at supporting mental health needs, but those who worked for a company offering mental health support had more energy and felt better at their job. Employees from the high satisfaction group in the study said they were more inclined to have positive thoughts about the company (89 per cent), and that their job inspires them (90 per cent). They were also more satisfied with their general work(95 per cent).
  • Policies are essential for success: Half of the decision-makers surveyed said their organisations have a more formalised flexible work strategy in place, but less than one per cent met Forrester’s specifications for a flexible work program. Around 21 per cent of employees said they can choose the working style that works best for them. Some 38 per cent of employees said that their company has documentation related to working styles, and only 18 per cent have read these policies. Yet, employees who do know the criteria are two times more likely to experience satisfaction.
  • The right technology is a must-have: LogMeIn notes that technology choices can’t be driven entirely by cost savings. Some 82 per cent of decision-makers said that the best way to make purchasing decisions is with input from IT and HR, but only 51 per cent of companies are making choices this way. Some 81 per cent of decision-makers also said they’re effective in ensuring privacy among in-office and remote workers, but only 58 per cent of staff members agreed. IT decision-makers are also seeing the gap. Some 76 per cent of employees believe strong remote work tech would improve compliance, and only 58 per cent felt that their technology was driving the right results today.

Structuring the New Age of Remote Work

According to Forrester, companies need to focus on the four pillars for good remote work: Culture, Structure, Compliance, and Technology. This will help business leaders to implement a more resilient flexible working strategy, with happy and productive employees.

The research above suggests that business leaders need to be willing to embrace remote work and take more steps to prepare for the hybrid future. If business leaders focus on the right pillars for success, hopefully, trust will follow.

 

 



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