Covid-19 has changed so much of how the world works. It forced everyone to work from home. The pandemic forced employers to allow remote work, which most were fighting against despite requests from employees. The results were mixed. Twitter and Facebook jumped at the opportunity to reduce the sizes of their offices by allowing employees to stay away from the office indefinitely if they so desired. Google and Apple, both with large Silicon Valley campuses, haven’t issued any decisions about remote work as a company-wide policy once it’s safe to return to their offices.
It will be interesting to monitor the situation as companies return, and employees still want to work remotely. Technology is a sector where remote work is relatively easy. The ability to work remotely, even part-time, will be a new decision for job seekers when they look for work. Paying attention to company’s remote work plans will greatly influence which professionals send their applications. Hopefully, these remote work plans will include a pay scale for remote workers. Companies are taking different approaches to the salaries of remote workers.
Some companies are considering relating the cost of living to remote employees’ salaries. The cost of living wasn’t an issue before remote work because everyone lived in the same general area since they were required to live close to the office. Pay will always be an important part of work, but pay isn’t everything when deciding on a position.
Non-Cash Benefits Of Remote Work
Numerous studies have shown that remote workers are more productive than they were before working at home. Salaries are often tied to various factors: location, skills, experience, and savvy negotiating. Remote work can be something you negotiate when you are hired for a new position. Very little work is done without a computer. Meetings might be the only part of a day in which you are not looking at a screen. Video conferencing software easily makes meetings accessible for remote workers. It also saves employees from traveling to different conference rooms and getting settle before a meeting. This change might be small, but it is a factor in increasing productivity.
The biggest cost savings is generally the lack of commute. No matter where you live, there is a cost of getting to work each day. This may not be factored into your monthly budget, but the cost savings are significant once you visit the gas station less or stop paying bus fare. Anyone with decent organizational skills can transition to working remotely without much change in their daily work activities. Companies may try to pay less for remote employees, but there is always room to negotiate your salary.
Remote Won’t Eliminate The Office
Work has traditionally been something you do in an office space. While companies are quickly adapting to the changes, getting rid of habits ingrained over centuries won’t happen overnight. Facebook’s goal for remote workers is 50 percent, meaning the other 50 percent will be in the office.
Remote isn’t an all or nothing venture. Companies have seen the benefits of remote work, but team cohesion and important meetings are often best done in person. Companies will develop hybrid models where employees can work remotely for an allotted amount of time each week. It might be the best of both worlds. Employees will still get face-to-face time with their coworkers and have the benefits of remote work.
A digital marketer is often already on the phone with clients worldwide and could easily do their job at home, but might feel their success will improve if they can present their final products in person.
How Important Is Salary To You?
We often judge ourselves based on our income. It’s common to associate a better job with higher pay. We neglect to think about the strings attached to a higher income. Companies might want us to work longer hours or constantly be on call when our bosses need something. A reduction in pay might relieve some of the overworking issues. A more relaxed work schedule reduces stress, which could prove a money-saving venture as people with less stress often have fewer health issues. You won’t be alone if you consider remote work as a reason for leaving your job.
The great remote work experiment is far from over. Success from remote work may be attributed to the previously built in-person relationship. Employees will keep an eye on remote work salaries and policies as they continue to change.