With the recent global shift towards remote working, many employers have noted an uptick in productivity. An increased number of working hours, attributable to the erasure of commuting time, seems to have pushed this rise. Interestingly, studies indicate that remote employees tend to work an average of almost 50 minutes longer than their office-based counterparts. These findings have extensive implications on the changing dynamics of the workforce, key amongst which being the resultant discussion about work-life balance, remote working ethics, and sustainability of higher levels of stress that come with extended working hours.
The question of workers being “too remote” does not solely pertain to geographical distance or time zone complexities. Instead, it refers to the blurring boundaries between professional and personal life aspects. Working from home might have eliminated commute time, but it also means that the home environment has now become the workspace. This transformation poses several nuanced ethical, legal, and human resources challenges.
Among the significant issues, the ambiguity around working hours and the right to disconnect is noticeable. Whilst flexible working hours are seen as a benefit of remote work, the blurring lines mean some employees are working much longer than traditional office hours. This can lead to burnout, reduced productivity in the long run, and potential legal issues around overtime and workers’ rights.
Article originally published in Corp! Magazine, July/August 2023 by Kerr Russell. Corporate law firms and global multinationals should consider these complexities as part of their remote work policies, ensuring the wellbeing of their workforce and upholding the legal regulations around remote work practices.