(Edited Press Release)
Many local companies have adopted work-from-home arrangements upon the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and the entire Luzon. This sudden shift in the workplace setup is challenging business continuity and the way the workforce works.
From being an exception, telecommuting has now become the new normal, and enterprises are looking for ways to calibrate their operations.
This is why some companies have expedited investments—from providing portable work equipment, to giving free consultation access to those who are new to working remotely—to make their employees’ transition to cloud-based work as seamless as possible.
Based on a report by Payoneer, a cross-payment platform, collaborative technologies make it easier for remote workers to effectively contribute and communicate. This has thus engrossed many young workers, mostly under the age of 35, to try and take on a different path by getting into the freelancing world.
Shift to telecommuting
The freedom to work from home and the privilege to enjoy flexible working hours are two of the most prominent factors why gig-economy workers find contentment with their lifestyles—but with more companies obliged to confront their reluctance toward remote work, could the Covid-19 pandemic actually lead to a significant telecommuting shift?
For one, traditional companies with a strong office workforce have now been navigating remote work technologies they haven’t paid close attention to before. Online resources that were deemed unconventional back then are requisite work assets to keep businesses afloat. At the organizational level, directors who believe that employees show more dynamics in an office set-up are now testing the waters by having to do it virtually. Given the situation, employers have also been compelled to monitor their team’s productivity in measures that go beyond the proximity of office attendance.
Telecommuting culture
Employees, on the other hand, are slowly getting a glimpse as to why many businesses have already adopted the telecommuting culture. Besides the benefits of being able to work from home and not having to brave their day-to-day commute, many have also recognized how this set-up can diversify the workforce by extending opportunities to those who live far and even those with physical disabilities.
With a global pandemic at hand, making good use of telecommuting can be the most operative thing employers can do to ensure the welfare of their employees. While this may be provisional, this large virtual collaboration experiment can broaden the possibility of having a significant telecommuting shift. For now, navigating the process and building the discipline required for this set-up could be one step ahead in exploring the future of work.
To know more about remote workers from more than 150 countries, download Payoneer’s The 2020 Freelancer Income Report.