Three Years In, Remote Work Has Changed the Nature of Work
As My Space Downtown celebrates its three-year anniversary, we have learned two things over this time. First, remote work is here to stay. Second, remote work has had a big impact on our lives and on the world of work.
When we set up our coworking space in Panama City in 2021, many workers were emerging from the pandemic and wanted an alternative to working from home. Some workers weren’t set up at home with Wi-Fi, vending machines or shredders and needed us to provide these services. Since then, many workers have come to like remote work and its flexibility, and they want to continue, particularly in a setting like ours that is less disruptive than the kitchen counter.
Meanwhile, over these three years, we’ve evolved along with our remote work customers. For example, we’ve seen demand grow for conference room rentals and private offices, and we’ve accommodated.
Looking back, here are some “global” ways remote work has changed the nature of work for employers and workers:
Employers are adapting and accepting remote work as a permanent option
For a long time, employers tried to get employees back into the office. Finally, as workers resisted, employers compromised. Many employers are settling for three required office days a week, with two remote working days. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2023 that 20% of workers telework and that figure likely won’t go down. Hybrid positions account for 13% of LinkedIn postings. Employers accept the structural advantages: remote work has reduced their real estate needs, leading to slimmed footprints.
Employers are admitting the positives: recruitment and retention are easier, and cheaper, and productivity is better
Once employers have accepted remote work as a new facet of employment, they are beginning to see many upsides. Employers are finding it easier to recruit remotely, because their talent pool can be the entire U.S. Employers of remote workers often avoid relocation costs more typical with onsite employees. Employers get more productivity for their payroll, too. Recent studies show remote worker productivity, without normal office distractions, is 40% greater than onsite.
Worker lives have gotten better
The big lifestyle changes stemming from remote work are positive for the workers. Commuting is down, increasing free time and reducing pollution. Retail is setting up more locations in suburbs as fewer workers commute to city centers, making shopping more local and accessible. With the freedom to live anywhere, many remote workers can purchase starter homes in more rural areas, at lower prices than if they lived within commutes.
With the normalization of remote work over the past three years, employees face more choices in job opportunities and more options as to where they spend their workday. Remote work sites like My Space Downtown are providing choices for remote workers and adapting to their needs as this phenomenon becomes increasingly mainstream.
