News

Report Details Benefits of Coronavirus-Driven Remote Work Surge

• By David Ramel
• 07/13/2020

With remote work becoming the "new normal" amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a new report details the many benefits of the work-from-home model, including increased productivity and "avoiding office politics."

The report, from careers site Dice, provides research and recommendations for tech employers about remote workforce strategies and onboarding and retaining remote workers.

Cloud computing, of course, is instrumental to remote work, with new initiatives for security and other areas emerging at a rapid clip.

The new report from the DHI Group-owned careers site, "The State of Remote Work," signals the ways in which relationships are changing between employers and workers, who have for years expressed their desire for more work-from-home opportunities, especially in the tech sector.

"Regardless of the desire, most employers did not offer formal remote and flex work policies to their employees," the report said. "While some employers worried it would have an impact on productivity, others believed it would be a detriment to organizational culture. "

"Almost overnight, COVID-19 forced most employers to mandate remote work indefinitely. Whether businesses had formalized policies, resources and infrastructure, they needed to act quickly to equip their teams with the right tools and information -- and hope that productivity wouldn’t drop."

However, increased productivity is among the top reported professional benefits to employees according to a Dice survey. Here are the top reported professional and personal benefits:

For employers, the report suggests strategies for a attracting and interviewing candidates, onboarding and retaining remote workers, and more.

For example, organizations are encouraged to attract candidates by:

• Integrating remote hiring with an employer brand, especially online
• Defining expectations in job descriptions
• Personalizing outreach and communications
• Shifting mindsets to create a short list of the most qualified professionals for specific roles

"Whether organizations choose to create a full-time remote work policy for the indefinite future, a flexible work policy or require employees to be back in the office, employers need to make a decision, and be able to justify that decision to their current employees and future hires," the report said.