Just a year ago, working from home was a great concept that nobody ever imagined could take over. With the pandemic killing hundreds of thousands of people though, the world was forced to experiment with remote working and voila what do you find, it is a great model that not only works but saves a ton of money. All that is needed is a fast, reliable internet connection like wow internet and cable and all employees can continue to working from wherever they are.

What’s more, remote working has allowed for economies to stay afloat and keep people’s homes running. However, where these jobs were seen as stable and ones you could rely on in times of great economic distress, once the virus disappears rumor has it that so will these jobs. Companies are already thinking, where possible, of turning operations remote and getting cheaper labor to do it. Higher cost of living prompts higher salaries for employees so outsources these jobs to places like Philippines and India seem like a great idea.

Is it Really Possible?

Well, there’s more to consider than just money. While companies can get employees to do the same work for less, there are other barriers to overcome. Language is a big component to consider as is time zones and of course culture. And, no matter how clear the video quality may get, in-person meetings still trump all. A face to face meet up with clients and socialization with colleagues is crucial in businesses and so shifting completely to a work from home model may not be the best course of action. We could expect a hybrid model to take root though in which people may opt to move around cities but not countries.

Building Capacity

Another interesting turn of events that has unfolded with the lockdown can be seen in call centers in Philippines and India. With no laptops, access to the internet or security clearance needed to complete the tasks, these offices were unable to deliver work and prompted companies to hire employees to do the job in their home countries. While we can’t say it brought the jobs back one can see how internet infrastructure might be become top priority post pandemic. With its improvement employees might even enjoy greater flexibility and a home-work life balance, while companies may enjoy reduced operational costs. When it comes to job security though it’s a double edged sword.

Final Words

We’re already noticing a change in the job market. London saw job postings drop by a whopping 50% while the rest of the UK observed a decline by 42%. These are worrying numbers but whether this trend will continue can only be ascertained once the third wave of coronavirus has passed and vaccinations are out.