Fairness and work do not always come hand in hand—the imbalances between the financial incentives of executives against those of the ordinary worker is one area of business that often provides for fiery debate. In recent times, the increased adoption of flexible working arrangements, allowing employees to work from anywhere, has led to a debate, particularly around those who are unable to do their work remotely, such as retail workers and hospital staff.
In a world where the humble nurse must go to work in a hospital, often at great personal risk, is it fair in this environment to allow office workers to work from the comfort of their homes? Is it fair that we allow those who have the capability to work and study from home, such as completing a Master of Education STEM Online, or should we make it mandatory for students and staff to be physically present at workplaces and educational institutions? Let's explore the impact of remote work and what it may mean for the offices of tomorrow.
Remote Work — Transforming Offices, Forever
The impacts of the recent COVID-19 pandemic have had a significant impact on the operations of metropolitan offices. Work-from-home policies, which previously sat idle and unpromoted amongst human resources teams, suddenly became the next battlefield to fight infection and disease.
During the 2021 Census, the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that approximately 40% of the working adult population regularly worked from home—up from 30% five years earlier. Recognizing the increased uptake in remote work, the workplace umpire, the Fair Work Commission, has taken steps to embed the right for employees to request flexible arrangements as part of their employment where it is reasonable for an employer to do so.
The ability for employees to work remotely has an inverse effect on the proportion of office space in use in cities—this can be seen in office occupancy data, which sat at 57% in Melbourne in November 2022. Six months later, that had risen to 61%—indicating that, to some extent, while some workers were returning to the office, many were also enjoying newfound flexibility and making the most of their working arrangements.
The Economic Impacts of Remote Work
With more workers working remotely, what does that mean for the restaurants and cafes that make up many of the ground floors of office buildings in cities? Indeed, many businesses in city centers have suffered the impacts of repeated lockdowns and now a reduction in trade—in fact, many businesses have simply shuttered their doors during a crisis and have not since reopened.
However, this exodus has not necessarily resulted in monetary savings—in fact, quite the opposite. Instead of spending their money solely at the cafe next to the office, the spending habits of workers are shifting—in some research circles, this is known as the doughnut effect—the increased ring of influence made by spending money in local businesses.
The economic impacts of remote work may seem severe, however—in actuality, it's more like a redistribution of spending from cities to the suburbs. This, in turn, can have a powerful effect on suburban shops that have struggled to make a living with the advent of cities—they get a chance to survive and thrive.
Remote Work — Transforming Disabilities and Families
Remote work has an additional, typically undocumented benefit—for those that have dependents or underlying disabilities. Remote work can be a transformative option that allows workers to engage with a workforce without having to deal with major hurdles such as transport restrictions.
Remote work can help parents manage the costs of childcare, which is often noted as more expensive than comparable developed nations. It can empower parents to work around the needs of their children—and motivate employers to provide flexible arrangements to retain high-performing contributors.
Hiring a person with a disability is not a fad—in doing so, employers provide an environment that values the needs of the individual with a disability. This level of support can sometimes be lacking in an environment that requires a worker to attend—so remote work can be empowering for those who are simply unable to work in a traditional workplace environment.
The Crux of The Matter
Ultimately, no matter where workers work, they will still spend some of their disposable income—even if inflation does make spending difficult. One may argue that workers having the capacity to work and study from home is a luxury—while in some situations, that may be true, enabling remote work opportunities for those of all body types can be a powerful driver to get more Aussies working.
It remains to be seen whether the trend of remote work will continue to increase—in some parts of Australia, there has been a shift towards more office work. For managers to remain an employer of choice in the future, however, it's expected that they'll continue to offer incentives and motivation that provide workers with the opportunity to work remotely.
At the crux of the matter, it can be argued that remote work provides new opportunities for workers, whether that be the opportunity for workplaces to diversify their teams, reduce employee stress, or simply provide them with a bit more freedom to succeed in their roles. If business success is the number one priority for organizations, one could argue that supporting employees is hardly an unfair practice.
