Publication
Work from anywhere: Benefits & challenges
Transforming Workplace - #12
Author:
Global | Publication | marzo 2022
In our preceding article, we examined the hybrid model of work, which combines some days ‘working from anywhere’ and some days working at the organisation’s worksite.
We will now discuss the benefits and the challenges of ‘work from anywhere’, including on a hybrid work mode1.
For employees, the ‘work from anywhere’ and hybrid benefits include:
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A recent Riverbed / Aternity global survey found that most organisations surveyed “are now very comfortable with employees working remotely and believe there are many benefits to adopting a hybrid work model.”7
For organisations, some of the ‘work from anywhere’ and hybrid benefits are:
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A “resounding 84% of” Riverbed / Aternity “survey respondents believe hybrid will have a lasting and positive impact on society and the world.”7
For communities, the environment, and overall sustainability the ‘work from anywhere’ and hybrid benefits include:
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Given all these benefits, there is no doubt that ‘working from anywhere’ and hybrid work are here to stay, providing the opportunity for organisations “to build new workplace norms that not only lead to greater fulfilment for employees but also better business outcomes.”3
However, these work arrangements also have downsides that need to be understood and overcome where possible.
For employees the ‘working from anywhere’ and hybrid challenges include:
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For organisations, some of the challenges from ‘work from anywhere’ and hybrid work are:
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Finally, for communities, the environment, and overall sustainability the challenges arising from ‘work from anywhere’ and hybrid work include:
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In summary, we have outlined many benefits, and numerous challenges that flow from employees ‘working from anywhere’ or on a hybrid work model.
However, it is worth noting that “we’ve all been living through the greatest workplace disruption in generations and the pace will not slow down.”27 The challenges outlined in this paper “are all wrinkles that companies can and should iron out…since remote work is here to stay.”28
Our next paper will consider the benefits of introducing short-term, temporary options for your employees to ‘work from anywhere’.
Norton Rose Fulbright assists organisations to efficiently and effectively address the legal aspects of the new global work environment, including working from anywhere. Please reach out if we can assist your organisation in this respect.
Footnotes
D Thompson, Atlantic, ‘The Five-Day Workweek is Dying’, 23 February 2022.
D Ziffer, ABC, ‘Work From Home is the new Normal as Employers Struggle to Make the Daily Grind Work’, 5 January 2022.
McKinsey, ‘What’s Next for Remote Work: An Analysis of 2,000 Tasks, 800 Jobs, and Nine Countries’, 23 November 2020.
B Kropp and E R McRae, Harvard Business School Publishing, ‘11 Trends That Will Shape Work in 2022 and Beyond’, 13 January 2022.
M Blanding (quoting T Neeley), Forbes / HBS Working Knowledge, ‘Succeeding in the New Work-From-Anywhere World’, 2 August 2021.
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