1/8/2024 0 Comments Working remotely meaning![]() ‘Organisations have to be careful in their choice of video conference facilities used by teleworkers so that they minimise the risk of hacking and loss of sensitive information,’ said Goenaga. During the pandemic, many employees were using external video conferencing platforms to communicate and some were found to be prone to hacking. But they could become more sophisticated and widespread.Ĭompanies will have to rethink cybersecurity too. Surveillance technologies that keep track of what workers are doing, such as monitoring emails and who is accessing and editing files, already exist. Many companies may turn to AI to help with the transition to teleworking, particularly through real-time systems that can monitor remote employees. ‘I think human nature has a tendency for sticking to one thing after they realise that it works,’ said Tilesch. A survey has shown that some employees would even be willing to take a pay cut if they can work from home. Teleworking is appealing to businesses since it cuts costs. According to George Tilesch, a global AI consultant and author of Between Brains, a book about the present and future impact of artificial intelligence (AI), small companies will soon follow suit. Tech companies such as Google have already announced that their employees will work from home until the summer of 2021. However, once the pandemic ends, remote working is likely to continue. ‘We should collectively address that and see what kind of measures we need to take so that (women) are not penalised again due to their gender,’ said Goenaga. It is attributed to the extra family responsibilities they have shouldered during the pandemic. A recent survey conducted in France found that mostly women reported that teleworking had a negative impact on their mental health. His team is currently researching the issue to see what can be done to help.ĭuring the pandemic, remote working has often had to be juggled with childcare due to school closures, where these multiple roles are often taken on by women. ‘We have observed that people are feeling lonely and depressed and need social interaction to have a more balanced life,’ said Goenaga. And social isolation may be an issue too. A recent report suggests that people may work longer hours and take fewer breaks than recommended by EU guidelines when at home, since it is harder to monitor working hours. However, there are risks to address as well. And evidence suggests that in normal times, productivity isn’t affected and can even be enhanced. By doing away with daily commutes, they may gain more leisure time and a better work-life balance. ‘I think that’s going to change substantially in the future as a result of the pandemic.’Ī switch to working from home could have advantages for employees. ‘They may not be organised for remote work because they don’t trust their employees to the same level as some companies in the north of Europe,’ he said. However, according to Goenaga, cultural differences are at play too since many workplaces are still set up in a more traditional way in southern Europe. It’s partly because there are more jobs in sectors conducive to remote work. In 2019, remote working was more common in northern European countries such as Sweden, Finland and Denmark – and these countries have also seen the biggest proportion of workers begin to telework during the pandemic. It is more prevalent with highly-skilled workers, where the highest rates were found among teachers, ICT professionals and managers. And some sectors had more experience with teleworking than others. ![]() Prior to this year, about 5% of people in the EU worked regularly from home, a figure that had not changed much since 2009. ’What appeared to be an underlying trend that was slowly happening has been accelerated over a very short period of time,’ said Xabier Goenaga, of the EU’s in-house research service, the Joint Research Centre, and co-author of a 2019 report on the changing nature of work and skills in the digital age. Remote working has exploded in 2020, with estimates suggesting that almost 40% of people employed in the EU started teleworking fulltime as a result of the pandemic.
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