If someone was told back in the 70s or 80s that many workers will be able to work from home in 2022, they would have laughed at it and regarded the person as crazy. Humans are naturally afraid of change, and they take anything new as a threat and get into survival mode. Take the switch from postal mail to electronic mail, for example, it took a painstakingly long time to be accepted. Many employees were reluctant to the change because it was outside of their habit and comfort zone and seemed like a lot of work to adapt to the new style of letter writing. At present, not a day goes by at work without receiving or sending emails. 

New trends and ideas are scary and intimidating which makes us cling to our comfort zones even more. We are afraid that in adapting to a new thing, we will even lose what we already have so we make up issues to justify our reluctance to try them. For this reason, all new inventions and ideas received tremendous opposition from the general public before they were adopted for good, such as the earth being round or washing hands before surgery.  

All around the world, remote work is facing the same judgment and prejudice for the sole reason that it is unfamiliar, and to adapt to it, we must learn to come out of our comfort zones. What we fail to realize is that this prejudice and reluctance are negatively affecting those who are in dire need of this opportunity.  

Recently I was watching the tv series “The Big Bang Theory” and in one of the episodes, a character of the sitcom named Bernadette was put on bed rest because of her delicate pregnancy. All the while, she suffered anxiety attacks that her rival at work would take advantage of her absence and take on her job. This made me think that if Bernadette had the option to work remotely while on bedrest, she wouldn’t feel useless, anxious, and threatened; and she would still be a useful employee of her company instead of being on a long leave.  

Similar situations occur in real life when factors like disabilities, responsibilities at home, or geographical location do not allow you to be physically present at the office. Remote work is the best solution to all these problems. However, many are still against it, and there are continued myths and misconceptions about remote work.  

These remote work misconceptions and myths are either false or supersede the benefits in comparison. Below are some of the common erroneous beliefs regarding remote work: 

Low Productivity 

The most common argument against remote work involves the productivity issue. The usual impression managers have of their employees about not being directly supervised is that they must be lazing around on the couch watching Netflix. Remote workers, however, have proven to be more productive through data and also debunked the “looking busy but doing nothing” concept.  

In an office, although you can see your employees working at their desks, running around looking busy, it doesn’t always prove that they are working; it just shows that they are active, and you have no reason to reprimand them. On the other hand, since remote employees are not directly monitored, they can’t show their productivity by looking busy. Performance and productivity depend on results, hence better productivity has been shown by remoter workers. Another factor that contributes to remote workers’ productivity is that they do not need to commute to work.  Taking traveling to and from work out of the equation helps remote workers avoid the stress of rush hour crowds and traffic and instead use those precious hours to relax and start their workday with full energy and enthusiasm.  

Communication Barriers and Lack of Innovation 

Another big objection to remote work is the belief that it is difficult to sustain open communication and discussions when you are not physically present in the same space. This concern, although valid, has many resolutions but like all other innovations, it just requires some familiarization. When new employees begin working for a company, they require some time to get to know the working order of the organization and how everything and everyone operates. In the same manner, a virtual office requires some adjustment and getting used to, and once one has gotten passed that phase, everything becomes business as usual.  

Besides, an upside to virtual communication is that everyone has an equal voice and say, compared to a physical office when opinions follow a hierarchical order. Virtual communication gives the quiet and introverted ones equal opportunity to share their opinions without being judged or silenced by the loudest voice.  

It also provides many innovative ways to communicate, brainstorm, and exchange ideas. The benefit of innovative strategies is that you can have a virtual whiteboard and put your ideas anonymously so that you can discuss the best ideas without prejudice or the fear of being judged. In a workplace, you usually conform and agree with the boss for fear of persecution or having an idea shut down because it is coming from an intern. With virtual brainstorming whiteboards, employees will be freed from their preconceived biases to come up with the best idea. 

The Social Deprivation  

One of the downsides that come when you start a remote job is the feeling of isolation and loneliness. It is an understandable concern that needs to be addressed. Like any other concept, this idea of working alone just requires getting used to and when you compare the benefits you get in return, this becomes a minor inconvenience that you learn to overcome with time. Remote companies are now coming up with innovative ways to counter this problem, like arranging virtual coffee talks, treasure hunts, adventures, and just simple water-cooler talks where you can share anything from work issues to the cute habits of your pets. With all these virtual hangouts, you learn more about your colleagues and create a bond that helps you collaborate on a better scale. The bonus that comes with remote work is that you get to save plenty of precious hours, which are otherwise lost in commuting to physical offices. You also get to save money, which is usually spent on drinks, lunches, and dinners as a regular onsite worker, and spend them with your family and friends and truly relax.  

Managerial Issues 

The job of a manager is never easy. They are not only supposed to keep their team happy and productive, but they are also responsible for their team’s performance to upper management. The stress and pressure can make some managers tyrannical and believe that their team will only be productive if they are constantly supervised through micromanagement, which leads to the aforementioned productivity issues. Productivity is not about whether a team is closely supervised or not, productivity relies heavily on good communication and trust that a manager has with their team that provides the best result. Therefore, the assumption that managing remote teams is more challenging is a misconception as there are the same challenges when it comes to managing a team be it remote or otherwise.  

The reluctance and prejudice towards remote work are depriving many for whom being in an office is not possible due to various personal reasons, the opportunity to work and have a dignified life. It is time for us to overcome our prejudice and let go of our biases to finally accept that remote work is here to stay as the benefits far exceed the minor inconveniences.  

JEDI Jobs is an initiative taken by Genashtim Pte Ltd, a completely remote company, that promotes and facilitates remote work. It’s a portal where global employers get to meet remote employees from around the world. Register now on JEDI jobs whether you want to start your remote career or if you are looking for eligible candidates to fill the remote vacancies in your company.