The appeal of working remotely is something that I’ve touched upon a number of times over the past few years, with those doing so generally not only happier, but more productive too. A recent report from the cyber security firm Avast suggests that people might even be willing to take a pay cut to be able to work more often from outside the office.
The study found that over half of respondents said they would be happy to take a pay cut if it meant they weren’t permanently tethered to the office. What’s more, a not insignificant 12% said they would turn down a pay rise of up to 25% if it meant they could work more flexibly. Sadly, this is not something that many respondents reported having.
Indeed, 38% said that they received no real support to help them work remotely, especially in terms of the technical challenges involved in doing so effectively and securely.
“The 9-5 workplace is a thing of the past, and the employees entering the workforce today are demanding increased flexibility with hours, location, and personalized benefits,” Avast say. “Whilst proven in some cases to increase employee satisfaction, and even productivity, there are very real security issues that need to be addressed. Businesses need to be in a position where they provide the tools that not only enable flexibility, but do so in a secure way. It’s also important not to forget those employees that would prefer to remain in a traditional office environment. A balance must be struck to enable all employees to work in a way that is most beneficial to them.”
Remote benefits
The survey goes on to reveal that many remote workers reported feeling generally happier, more engaged in their work, and that this in turn had a knock on effect on their productivity and the overall quality of their work. Indeed, 38% of respondents said they were most productive when working from home.
Suffice to say, as the report was sponsored by Avast, they wish to draw attention to the technical support required to work from home safely and securely, and highlight various risks, from data breaches to unsecure Wi-Fi. They urge businesses to provide mobile workers with various security features, including VPN solutions and anti-malware software, whilst they also urge employers to educate workers on the best security practices.
I’ve covered various aspects of mobile working in the past, but the technological precautions and support required is generally not something that gets covered a great deal, so in that respect the report is a welcome addition to the conversation.
