If 2020 was a nightmare, 2021 seems hopeful; at least the world would like to believe so. The “new normal” is settling in and remote working has found footing. From here on, the journey of adaptability begins. Organizations, leaders, and teams are finding new ways of collaborating, communicating, and working efficiently together in the new set-up. 

As remote working continues to evolve and find more acceptance across the industries, here are the top five features of remote workplaces in 2021 and beyond. 

Flexible working hours with asynchronous communication 

A remote and dispersed workforce requires new ways of tracking and monitoring work efficiency and productivity. A strict schedule of 9-5 work timings has little to no place in the remote set-up. Flexjobs’ recent survey suggests that 76% of US workers would be more willing to stay with their current employer if they could work flexible hours.

To make this work, organizations must incorporate responsible flexibility in their culture.

Give employees the flexibility to choose their own work time, letting them work on their best productive hours. Flexible work hours allow for a better work-life balance and greater employee satisfaction. The need for same time availability is getting reduced. No wonder, 69% of millennials said they would give up other work benefits for a more flexible working space in a CBRE survey. 

Better processes that enable business goals

Right processes, facilitated by the right tools, are the key for remote working to succeed. It is the premise for flexibility and asynchronous communication. In-depth planning at all levels in terms of business objectives, timeline, responsibility, and the end goals, lays the groundwork for a successful remote set-up. 

In 2021 and beyond, there would be more focus on documentation, planning, and training. To reduce team dependencies on each other, and still achieve the best results, smoother processes could play a crucial role in improving business efficiencies. 

Employees taking extended vacations and staycations

Remote working has expanded the horizon of where one can work from. You could be shifting locations as per your interests without affecting work while enriching your experiences. It is no longer about taking time-off but making the most of your time. 

HR leaders believe that in the coming years, employees will get used to remote working with the changing paradigm. As most of the organizations are now rethinking strategies, a staycation might become more mainstream. 

Who knows, it may even find a place in the employee benefits policies in the coming years. It will be interesting to know how organizations and leaders adapt to this trend with time. 

Improved lifestyle

As per a recent Flexjob survey, 73% of respondents believed that working from home has improved their work-life balance, allowing them more time to spend with family, friends, and pets. 

As more and more organizations continue to turn remote, we could be looking at a happier workforce in 2021. Employees will be able to make and practice better lifestyle choices, owing to their flexibility. Due to the ability to work in a staggered manner, sneaking time for a workout, cooking, gardening, or whatever you need to reset is possible now. 

There would also be less worry among employees about taking time away from work to care for a child, spouse, or other family members. Thus leading to healthier well-being – physically as well as mentally. 

Increased productivity

2020 has busted the myths around work productivity. Organizations were cautious in taking the work from home route earlier – the belief that employees might slack off, distrust or for attribution error – have successfully adopted or are adapting to the new norms. Upwork studies are showing that by 2028, 73% of all departments will have remote workers. 

What changed? In one word, productivity. Many studies have proved that remote employees perform better, get more work done and faster and they also take less time off.  This is due to lesser distractions, working in a more comfortable space, and longer working hours in most cases. 

2021 would likely continue to see a rise in employee productivity. Organizations may adapt to their employee policies to support this trend. From monthly reimbursements to work from home set-up funds, companies are coming up with all kinds of arrangements to support employee productivity.