The work economy has expeditiously evolved over the past two decades. And in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, industries have adapted to new work models.
Aided by seemingly spontaneous technological advancements, people can now work for employees in different hemispheres. While this method hasn’t completely replaced traditional in-person jobs, more organizations are beginning to opt for remote work.
Trending Work Models in 2022
In 2022, the remote work landscape is almost fluid, given that people are finding new ways to collaborate on projects and work for organizations remotely. But these methods usually fall under three categories that have risen to dominance in recent times. These models are the typical remote work model, the hybrid work model, and digital nomadism.
- The Remote Work Model
The remote work model is currently the most popular in 2022. The number of organizations willing to hire remotely working employees has tripled in the past two years. So, the prospects of finding remote work and working with organizations previously out of reach due to geographical barriers are now limitless.
Recent statistics show that over half the US workforce chooses remote work over in-person work. And most developed nations of the world are following suit. And that’s not surprising because of the benefits workers enjoy working remotely.
One of the most appealing advantages of working remotely is that you get to pick your working environment. It could be your living room, bed, or dedicated workspace at home. Because of the freedom of owning their private office, remote workers usually prime their workspace to help them remain productive while enjoying the luxury of working from home.
Working remotely also cuts down commuting costs. Because you don’t have to work every day, you’ll spend much less on gas, cab tips, subway, and bus fares. This benefit helps you save the extra cash you could have spent on transport.
In addition, working from home also helps you to choose your working hours. You can take as many breaks as you want as long as it doesn’t affect your productivity.
- Hybrid Work Model
The hybrid work model has been around for a while now, but it has become more prominent in recent times like remote work. Statistics show that about 27 percent of companies in the United States have implemented hybrid work models since the pandemic began.
While this model permits workers to work from home, they must come to work on select weekdays. So, distance is usually a problem for prospective employees.
Regardless, it helps to foster consistent productivity in workers. While working from home can be insanely effective at times, on other days, you may feel a productivity block and need a boost to continue. Occasionally going to the office and seeing others work would motivate you to put in your best efforts.
Also, while it doesn’t cut down as much commuting costs as remote work does, the hybrid work model is still pretty effective at reducing the number of money workers spend on transport. It also assists in bringing the gig economy in-house.
Furthermore, the hybrid work model promotes job satisfaction because workers get to have their own free time when working remotely. And modern innovations of the model allow freelancers to work in person sometimes. This feature will enable them to interact with other employees and gain valuable work experience.
- Digital Nomadism
Digital nomadism is quite different from remote work because multiple other geographic locations are involved. Digital nomads often move from one country to another while working, but the frequency of their transit usually varies. So, while some nomads spend a month or two in one city before moving to another, others can spend up to a year in a particular city before leaving for the next one.
Nomads enjoy certain civil benefits in the countries they move to since they usually obtain work visas. But, to cut down costs incurred from paying income taxes, digital nomads sometimes renounce their American citizenships. Although it’s a complicated and irreversible process, it comes with benefits best understood by the risk bearer.
Trust is something digital nomads have to establish with clients because of their geographical instability. But these days, organizations and private contractors are usually willing to employ nomads under peculiar conditions. But you should also check the terms of employment before applying to avoid issues regarding instability in the long run.
Summary
Remote work is the now and future of the labor economy. And as employers continuously embrace it, it has spawned new models with broader possibilities. Luckily, the hybrid work model has gained traction in the U.S. and other developed countries, combining remote and in-person labor benefits. And digital nomadism does hold promise in the ever-exciting world we are eager to explore as humans.
