What is Remote Work?
Nov 27, 2022 • 12 min read
There are many different definitions of what it means to work remotely. Some say you must work from home, others consider it to include working out of a co-working space, and still others consider it to include a coffee shop. In fact, there are even some who believe that telecommuting is just another form of remote work.
Remote work is defined as the opportunity to work from anywhere you want while being paid for it. And technology allows us to do it. In fact, there are three categories of remote workers: full-time remote, part-time remote, and flexible remote.
You’ll learn:
- What type of remote workers are there?
- Why are fully remote teams good for companies?
- How do people work remotely?
- What are some common misconceptions about remote work?
- What is a remote worker?
- How Remote Work Benefits Employees
- Jobs that can be done remotely
- Hiring a remote worker
Ready to build your remote team?
Use the DigiWorks platform to hire, manage, and pay remote talent from all over the world.
What types of remote workers are there?
There are three categories of remote workers: full-time remote, part-time remote, and flexible remote.
Full-Time Remote Workers
These employees are hired directly into a position and work exclusively from home. They often receive benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans. This type of employee requires a good amount of trust since he/she works alone most of the time.
Part-Time Remote Workers
This category includes freelancers, consultants, contractors, and virtual assistants. These people work remotely for one client at a time. Many times, they are hired to complete specific tasks for a certain period of time. For example, a freelance writer might be hired to write articles for a particular blog for 30 days. Afterward, she moves on to her next project.
Flexible Remote Worker
This group consists of independent contractors, self-employed individuals, and those working for themselves. They offer a variety of services ranging from graphic design to web development. Some even provide consulting services to help businesses grow.
Why are fully remote teams good for companies?
Fully remote companies are becoming increasingly common around the world. Companies like Slack, Zoom, and Trello have made remote work arrangements to make it easier for their virtual teams to work together remotely. Fully remote companies offer a lot more flexible work options for their teams and usually make reasonable accommodations to make the transition to a remote location a lot easier.
It’s important to replace in person meetings with alternative communication channels, have remote work policies in place as well as remote work agreements to ensure compliance and ongoing productivity. Some of the benefits of switching to a remote-first company model include:
1. Low Operational Costs
The main reason why businesses are adopting full remote teams is because of cost savings. A recent survey found that 92% of employers believe that fully remote teams save money compared to traditional office-based teams. For example, one study showed that companies that adopt a fully remote model reduce operating costs by up to 30%. Remote work tools and workflow apps are a huge help for companies that choose this model and are a lot cheaper than overhead costs and office spaces!
2. Diversity & Access To A Larger Talent Pool
The main reason why businesses are adopting full remote teams is because of cost savings. A recent survey found that 92% of employers believe that fully remote teams save money compared to traditional office-based teams. For example, one study showed that companies that adopt a fully remote model reduce operating costs by up to 30%. Remote work tools and workflow apps are a huge help for companies that choose this model and are a lot cheaper than overhead costs and office spaces!
3. Saying goodbye to travel time
Employers and employees save time and money when cutting the commute process and employers no longer have to fork out for travel comp when switching to a virtual team. This not only saves time and money but makes remote positions a lot more desirable and can be great for employee retention rates.
How do people work remotely?
Remote working isn’t just for millennials anymore. In fact, it’s become increasingly popular among older generations too. And while there are plenty of benefits associated with remote working, one thing many people struggle with is finding a place to work. While many people choose to work from the comfort of their homes other people prefer alternative worksites like coffee shops and coworking spaces.
In fact, according to Gallup, nearly half of American employees aren’t satisfied with where they work. So what does that mean for employers? Well, it could mean that you’re losing out on some talented people.
According to a recent study conducted by FlexJobs, over 50% of respondents said that flexibility was the most important factor when choosing a job. But how do you attract talent without offering a competitive salary?
Here are three ways companies are trying to make remote work easier.
1. Offer flexible schedules
One of the biggest challenges of remote work is scheduling meetings and collaborating effectively. If you want to keep your team productive, you’ll need to find a way to schedule face-to-face meetings. This can be difficult when everyone works different hours. For example, you might need someone to be available during normal business hours, but you also want to meet with them once a week at lunchtime.
To help solve this problem, many companies are offering flexible schedules. You can set up recurring meetings throughout the day, allowing you to see each other even when you’re both working from home.
2. Provide free Wifi
Having a strong internet connection is key to doing work remotely. You need to jump on call and get connected to do work online with colleagues from around the world. To guarantee no internet connectivity issues, you could potentially offer to provide free Wi-Fi as a perk to your remote workers.
3. Choosing the right communication tools
Having the right communication tools can make a huge difference in having a smooth remote working environment for colleagues around the world. Communication tools such as Zoom, Slack and even the growth of online virtual offices have made communicating much easier than previously. Make sure to have everyone trained up on the best tools will make your lives infinitely easier and can be even more efficient than working in person.
What are some common misconceptions about remote work?
Remote work doesn’t mean you can’t see people face-to-face. In fact, it’s a great opportunity to meet new people and collaborate with colleagues across different offices. However, there are some important things to consider before jumping into remote work.
Remote workers can have trouble communicating
A recent survey found that remote workers are having difficulty connecting with co-workers. While some people prefer face-to-face interactions, others find it easier to communicate over video chat. In fact, nearly half of respondents said they use video calls to work together. But there are ways to make sure everyone feels included. Here are three tips for making remote teams more cohesive.
Remote workers are “always-on”
A recent survey found that nearly half of Americans work remotely at least some of the time. In fact, many people consider themselves “remote workers.” But despite the growing popularity of working remotely, there are still misconceptions about what it really entails. For example, many people think that remote workers are always-on, even when they’re not physically present. This misconception leads to miscommunication and frustration among employees.
Communication is key to successful remote work. Setting boundaries around how much time we’ll be available during the week helps us manage our expectations. We can set up meetings via video chat, call, email, or text. And we can use tools such as Slack, Zoom, Skype, and Trello to communicate effectively with one another.
Remote workers don't actually work
If you’re working remotely, you might think that you’re doing something wrong—and you probably are. But it doesn’t mean that you’re lazy or unproductive. In fact, there’s nothing inherently wrong about being a remote worker. If anything, we believe that remote workers are simply different.
The stereotype of the stereotypical remote worker is someone who sits alone in his basement, staring into space while he works. This isn’t true. We know people who work from coffee shops, libraries, airports, and even airplanes. These are productive, happy people. They’re just different.
There’s no reason why you can’t have a successful remote team—if you give them the tools that they need.
Ready to build your remote team?
Use the DigiWorks platform to hire, manage, and pay remote talent from all over the world.
What is a Remote Worker?
Remote working is becoming increasingly popular among businesses. But what exactly is it? And how do you make sure it works for both sides? We’ve jotted down some of the pros of hiring a remote worker and being a remote worker below.
Pros of hiring a remote worker
Telecommuting is an effective strategy for improving your worklife balance. If you’re thinking about working remotely, it might be worth asking your current employer if there’s anything you can do from home. You could even ask for a trial period to see how things go.
A flexible schedule could lead to promotions or new roles. If you’ve been looking for a job recently, it may be worth asking your potential employer if they offer remote options. They may be able to give you some insight into what they look for in candidates.
Higher productivity
A recent study found that employees are more productive when working from home. The research, conducted by FlexJobs, surveyed 2,500 workers across six industries and found that those who worked remotely reported being more engaged and having better relationships with colleagues.
The survey also revealed that remote workers are less likely to take breaks during the day because they don’t feel like they’re wasting time away from their jobs. They also tend to spend more time on tasks that require creativity and critical thinking, such as writing reports and conducting market research.
Remote workers also report feeling happier and healthier than their co-workers who commute to offices every day.
Engaged employees
Remote working offers flexibility, allowing people to choose how and where they spend their days. This freedom allows remote workers to pursue their passions, whether it’s playing sports, spending time with family, or pursuing hobbies.
A happier workforce leads to better performance. When people are engaged, they perform better, both at work and outside of it. Happy employees are productive, creating value for customers and contributing positively to the bottom line.
Companies benefit from having happy, healthier employees. Happy employees make great team members and loyal customers. They contribute to the success of the organization and help it thrive.
How Remote Work Benefits Employees
Remote working offers flexibility, allowing people to choose how and where they spend their days. This freedom allows remote workers to pursue their passions, whether it’s playing sports, spending time with family, or pursuing hobbies.
A happier workforce leads to better performance. When people are engaged, they perform better, both at work and outside of it. Happy employees are productive, creating value for customers and contributing positively to the bottom line.
Companies benefit from having happy, healthier employees. Happy employees make great team members and loyal customers. They contribute to the success of the organization and help it thrive.
Working remotely benefits employees in many ways, including:
- Greater creativity
- Better focus
- More opportunities to learn and grow
- Increased job satisfaction
- Lower stress levels
- Less commuting
- Reduced health care costs
- Improved employee retention rates
- Fewer distractions
Jobs that can be done remotely
Remote jobs are hot right now. They give people flexibility while still providing some of the same benefits as traditional office jobs.
Here are just a few examples of what you could do from home.
1. Customer Support Representative –
You can help customers solve problems over the phone or online.
2. Software Developer –
You can write code to develop software applications.
3. Graphic Designer –
You can design logos, brochures, flyers, posters, banners and much more.
4. Writer –
You can write articles, blogs, press releases, white papers, etc.
5. Virtual Assistant –
You can perform administrative tasks such as bookkeeping, data entry, scheduling and customer support.
6. Content Marketer –
You can build websites, social media profiles, email campaigns and more.
Where to hire a remote worker
Job boards are great tools if it’s your goal to reach a large audience during the hiring process. But they don’t always provide the best quality applications. Recruiting agencies are better suited for finding talent because they can target specific audiences based on skill set. Former employees are another good resource for finding potential hires. They may be willing to work remotely depending on their situation.
However, if you do not have a Human Resources Department and need to do some remote hiring for your administrative tasks, customer service and sales then using a platform like DigiWorks could be ideal for you!
If you’re looking for a more affordable and sustainable option you might consider making use of a hiring platform like DigiWorks. Virtual assistant companies or platforms like DigiWorks are amazing as they not only match you with pre-vetted and assessed remote workers that can take care of all your business needs but they will also handle all onboarding and payroll needs as well.
Since DigiWorks’ talent is from emerging countries, the rates are much lower than the US minimum wage and you don’t have to deal with the risk of dealing with scammers or incompetent freelancers.
Ready to build your remote team?
Use the DigiWorks platform to hire, manage, and pay remote talent from all over the world.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that remote workers are no different than anyone else. They still require the same basic workplace skills such as communication, collaboration, problem-solving, leadership, planning, and decision-making. But they also need to possess certain traits specific to remote workers. For example, remote workers must be comfortable multitasking, self-motivated and flexible.
To ensure that you hire the best candidates for your team, consider hiring someone who already works remotely. You’ll save yourself the hassle of training and onboarding them. And if you decide to go down the remote route, make sure you offer flexibility and transparency throughout the process.
Remote workers are an important part of a growing number of businesses. They help employees work faster, improve customer experience, and save money. If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to hiring one, DigiWorks is an amazing solution. The DigiWorks team will connect you with a global talent pool so you can find someone who is a great fit for you and your business!
