Remote work: Definition, process, and examples

What is remote work?

Remote work is a work environment where employees do not need to work in an office or office space with their colleagues. Remote work means that employees and teams are not in the same physical space (or time zone) but still work together effectively. In order to enable productive team work, remote work typically requires the use of digital collaboration and communication tools like messaging, video conferencing, file sharing, and task tracking apps.

Types of remote work teams

Remote work, also known as telecommuting, does not always follow the same structure. Here are the most common types of remote work setups:

Fully remote teams

A fully remote team means that an organization does not have any central office. Remote workers in this situation either work from home or in a coworking space or 'remote office.' In this situation, everything including recruitment is achieved remotely.

Distributed hubs

A workforce becomes “distributed” when a company decides to set up smaller offices in locations outside its headquarters. Employees who are not working from the central location are considered to be remote working teams.

Flexible remote work

These days, it's common for organizations to offer employees flexible arrangements that include remote work. This hybrid model means employees are not always in the same location all the time. For example, it includes employees who work from home a few days a week to employees or whole teams who solely work remotely.

Remote positions

In this case, a team will work mainly from the office, with one or two roles being performed off-site. The name for these roles is 'remote positions,' meaning they are not needed in the office. An example of a remote position is a Virtual Assistant.

What is remote recruiting?

Remote recruiting is the term used to describe a recruitment process handled completely online. This means interviews are conducted either over the phone or through video conferencing software. For fully remote teams and teams with distributed hubs, this will likely be the usual process.

Benefits of remote work for startups and Small to Medium-sized Businesses

1. Reduced costs

A company saves money on office upkeep, electricity, and more with remote working arrangements. And obviously, if an organization goes fully remote, they completely forego the costs of renting a workplace.

2. Ability to hire top talent

Location also plays a role in attracting the right talent to an organization. With remote work, you increase the number of candidates who would consider working for you and have the chance to tap into a larger pool of qualified candidates.

3. Greater diversity

One of the best ways a company can grow and improve its products is by building more diverse teams. Remote work enables a company to hire talent from a broader range of cities, countries, and backgrounds and gain a competitive advantage.

4. Increased retention

Allowing employees remote working options can increase their satisfaction and therefore their loyalty. These days, job seekers are increasingly looking to work for companies that offer ways to accommodate their schedules and lifestyle and provide a better work-life balance.

5. More sustainable

Remote work means fewer people commuting to an office, which reduces an organization’s carbon footprint. Even if employees work remotely only a few days a week, it positively impacts the environment, which in turn reflects well on a company’s employer brand — especially during a pandemic we're currently experiencing with COVID-19.