(Newswire.net — May 19, 2021) —
The concept of remote work in Portland was already growing gradually throughout the twenty-aughts, but the landscape of business in the City of Roses changed forever in March 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic forced workers to stay home.
Gov. Kate Brown’s executive orders for Oregonians to “stay home, save lives” has affected thousands of office workers. A little more than a year later, residents are now returning to the workplace. Nonetheless, as is the case across America and further afield, the repercussions have moved the goalposts of work environments forever.
Remote Working is Here to Stay—But Won’t Completely Replace On-Site Workforces
Research shows that as much as 53% of the U.S. workforce worked remotely in some capacity prior to the pandemic, so the concept of remote work was hardly new. Additionally, many companies found it much easier to complete the transition than they may have imagined.
While it is reported that one in three remote workers would rather quit than return to the office, there is a widespread acceptance that remote workers will supplement in-office employees rather than replace them. Businesses may find that remote options a good solution while slowly easing back to full capacity. Meanwhile, firms that have had to streamline as an upshot of lost revenue may turn to remote workforces to reduce expenses until a stable future is established.
Remote work in Portland, like the rest of the world, will remain an option for many and will certainly become the new norm for a larger percentage of workers than worked remotely before COVID-19.
What Would Long-Term Remote Workforces Look Like?
Remote work can provide several benefits for employees and employers alike. For companies planning to make it a permanent fixture, though, there will be a host of new challenges to consider.
A lack of engagement and decreased human interaction will increase the need for personal communication, while mental health issues could become a real threat. Employers can offset this threat by taking action to understand how mental health affects employees, include mental health coverage in healthcare plans, and promote a healthy work-life balance.
Cybersecurity is another common concern as companies look to stay protected across physical and remote locations. Working with the right IT company in Portland can help businesses create a secure remote network that both provides the right tools for communication and keeps important data secure.
Computer technology has been the catalyst for changes in business for several decades. When implemented in conjunction with on-site office workers, remote workers can become an important, permanent feature of workforces throughout the country. Regardless of how remote working in Portland reached this stage, employers and employees alike will need to adapt to its long-term effects.