STRATEGY
Company culture inevitably improves with remote working because, by giving employees the option to work remotely, it creates a culture of trust Jacqui Keep, expert at Powwownow, explains the importance of remote working for company culture
Out of sight, but not out of mind
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ompany culture has now become a fundamental component of successful businesses. It may not be blatantly obvious on surface value, but it affects our drive, our approach to work, and our dedication to our job, so naturally, businesses are constantly looking to make improvements to it. It has become so important that companies are now transforming the way their businesses are run in order to reach company culture enviable by most, and employers are beginning to prioritise it as an essential part of business models. Naturally, remote working has become integral for improving company culture. The benefit of being able to avoid the horror of transport strikes or delays and having the option to work remotely instead is an advantage difficult to argue against. So, rather than wasting countless personal and work hours in a painful commute to work, it enables staff to stay productive in situations out of their control instead.
Remote working (and flexible working) has subsequently changed the landscape of ‘the office’ and has given employees the freedom to determine their workplace. For staff satisfaction and retention, remote working has become essential for achieving good company culture. Having more options than only an office desk at work allows staff to explore different ways of working, and determine what environment keeps them most productive. With the right to flexible working, working spaces and hours have also become much more fluid. The strict 9-5 desk job is no longer the reality, and remote working has become a part of business models – a change which no doubt has improved both work-life balance and company culture. Technology is at the stage where there are more ways to communicate than just emailing or speaking to someone at a colleague’s desk. With conference calling services and online solutions, such as iMeet by Powwownow, colleagues, clients, and
agencies can now communicate with each other from a range of locations, time zones, and devices. Not only have channels of communication improved, but so has company culture. Formal and informal options for communicating with each other have meant that levels of communication have expanded and become instant. It has also meant that people can stay connected and updated with their work, and finding places to work from has become less taxing. Company culture also inevitably improves with remote working because, by giving employees the option to work remotely, it creates a culture of trust. For good company culture to be established, employees need to have a sense of autonomy, and remote working can create just that. Everyone works in their own unique way, so by businesses acknowledging this, remote working has become a natural fit for improving a company’s culture. Contact: www.powwownow.co.uk
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