As the landscape of work shifts dramatically, we’ve gathered insights from industry leaders, including Presidents and Heads of Operations, to discuss the impact of remote work and its longevity. From expanding client bases to complementing mental health services with telehealth, we present the diverse perspectives of ten professionals on the remote revolution in their fields.
Expanding Client Base with Remote Work
The change in how we work remotely has had a dramatic impact on our practice of financial planning and consulting, especially on how we interact with clients and work within our operation. A lot of our consulting work before would require us to be in the same physical space with our clients to work on their finances. But because of the change in how we work these past two years, we’ve had to respond quickly to utilize the technology available now for virtual meetings and digital communication platforms. The shift in our practice has been very positive because it has expanded our client base. We no longer have to limit our practice to those who can come to our office because we can now serve clients in other states and even overseas.
I think that, from a permanency perspective, remote work will stick around in the industry. Both the efficiency and flexibility that remote work offers, to our clients and to financial planners, are significant. Our clients appreciate the ability to discuss their financial goals without having to leave the house. We appreciate the ability to have a flexible schedule, and the promise of being able to work more effectively because of the flexibility (and less time spent commuting and sitting in traffic!). The digital tools we use for data analysis, communicating with clients, document management, and sharing, have grown more robust and secure, as the whole remote work landscape grows both more popular and more secure. This isn’t just a band-aid solution. It fundamentally changes the way that financial services are done, with a promise of more accessibility and efficiency for all of us.
Eric Croak, CFP, President, Croak Capital
Hybrid Model Balances Culture and Flexibility
Our industry, as it touches both on manufacturing and sales, can never be fully remote. However, we have implemented a hybrid work environment for our non-manufacturing teams, such as Sales, Finance, and Operations, where we allow people to work from home three days a week. The reason why we haven’t gone fully remote is because of the lack of culture, which is what I think ultimately makes the setup unsustainable. For an organization to work cohesively, there is a need for this face-to-face time, in which people can connect beyond the workflows and daily tasks. It’s this human dynamic that both consolidates the culture of a business, the brand, and generates and encourages innovation. I think this flexible setup will be lasting, but I wouldn’t be surprised if more and more companies shied away from offering fully remote environments because the loss of creativity and culture is too high.
Alexandru Samoila, Head of Operations, Connect Vending
Global Talent Pool Enhances Digital Marketing
Remote work has significantly transformed the digital marketing industry, and I believe it’s here to stay. For my company, it has unlocked access to a global talent pool, allowing us to bring in diverse perspectives that were previously out of reach. We’ve also seen increased productivity with flexible hours; employees can work when they’re most focused.
That said, remote work requires careful management to maintain collaboration and creativity. We’ve implemented tools like Slack and project management platforms to keep communication smooth, but I also ensure regular virtual check-ins to foster team cohesion. The flexibility remote work offers has become a competitive advantage, making our business more agile and responsive to client needs.
Marcus Clarke, Owner, Searchant
Remote Work Broadens Recruitment Horizons
As a recruiting professional, I see the growth of remote work having two major impacts on our day-to-day work. The first is that companies that make use of fully remote professionals have adjusted the way they search for talent. Offering remote roles broadens the potential talent pools for companies, which can be a benefit for landing the absolute best talent but can also make the applicant screening and hiring process more complicated. This has shifted the kinds of hiring challenges that companies today face.
The second impact is from the job seeker’s perspective. Now that people have seen the extent of roles where remote work can be possible, more candidates are making this kind of flexibility a “non-negotiable” when they’re looking for roles. There is far more interest in remote-first recruitment today than there was five years ago, and I do not anticipate we will see that interest wane any time soon.
Working with a recruitment firm gives me a unique perspective on remote work and how its expansion has changed the working world in a variety of sectors. One thing that I think is important to remember is that remote work did not just suddenly start during the pandemic. There was a strong tradition of remote roles and distributed teams for years prior to 2020.
The main change we’ve seen in the last five years is to the types of roles and organizations where remote work is an option. Some fields have consistently offered remote positions and simply saw the availability of those roles increase—for instance, in tech roles like developer or web designer, or creative positions like graphic designer or copywriter. Fields where remote work was a newer concept include most that are client- or customer-facing, or those that require higher levels of collaboration across teams, something that the expansion of remote work technology like video conferencing platforms and virtual workplaces has helped to allow.
Rob Boyle, Marketing Operations Director, Airswift
Financial Services Embrace Hybrid Work Model
Remote work has really shaken things up in the financial services industry. Professionals can connect with clients and run their team from practically anywhere. This shift has made us all jump on the bandwagon faster, using tech tools and platforms that let us talk and share information consistently, no matter where we are. This means I can give you customized advice right when you need it, without the hassle of having to meet in person.
However, while remote work has its benefits and advantages, many people (like myself) still enjoy working in the office and meeting clients face-to-face. And let’s be honest, working remotely isn’t without its challenges. Building teamwork and trust can be tough when you’re not face-to-face.
Despite this, there’s no doubt that remote work is here to stay, probably as part of a hybrid model, and will be used by people in the financial space. Personally, I can’t stress enough how important face-to-face meetings are for nailing down those complex financial choices. Going forward, I see us blending the best of both worlds—using awesome tech while keeping those personal connections that are absolutely really important in financial advising.
Alex Langan, Chief Investment Officer, Langan Financial Group
Surveillance Industry Benefits from Global Expertise
Remote work is actually benefiting our industry significantly. As a surveillance company with a strong reliance on cutting-edge technology, remote work has opened up a new realm of possibilities.
It allows us to broaden our recruitment efforts to include technology experts from countries such as the UK and Australia.
I’d say that this global talent pool brings diverse skills and perspectives, which are crucial as we innovate and enhance our product offerings.
For instance, hiring specialists from different time zones ensures 24/7 development and support, further improving our customer service. Moreover, I think the flexibility of remote work helps us attract top talent who value a work-life balance, ultimately driving productivity and creativity within our teams.
Tomasz Borys, Senior VP of Marketing & Sales, Deep Sentinel
Remote Work Influences Real Estate Trends
The concept of remote work has been gaining popularity in recent years, with advancements in technology making it easier for people to work from anywhere. This trend has had a significant impact on various industries, including real estate.
I have personally witnessed the effects of remote work on the housing market. With more and more individuals able to work remotely, there has been an increase in demand for properties outside of major cities and traditional office hubs. People are no longer limited by location when it comes to their job opportunities, and this has resulted in a shift towards suburban and rural areas.
One example from my experience is the increase in demand for properties in small towns and villages near popular vacation spots. With the ability to work remotely, people are no longer tied to a specific location for their job, allowing them to move closer to their desired leisure activities. This has not only driven up property prices in these areas but has also led to an influx of new residents, changing the dynamics of these communities.
Keith Sant, Founder & CEO, Kind House Buyers
Legal Industry Adapts to Remote Variability
Although remote work has had a substantial impact on many elements of the legal business, its effects have varied depending on the role and practice area. Remote work has shown to be quite beneficial for attorneys and paralegals managing document-intensive tasks like contract evaluation or legal research. These workers may frequently carry out their responsibilities from any place with a secure internet connection–which increases flexibility and may even boost productivity. Routine client communication has also successfully migrated to virtual platforms–with encrypted texting and video conferencing becoming standard.
However, not all legal roles have been equally impacted by the remote work trend. Courtroom litigation, for instance, still largely requires in-person attendance, though some jurisdictions have adopted virtual hearings for certain proceedings. Similarly, roles that involve frequent client meetings, document signings, or collaborative strategy sessions often benefit from face-to-face interactions. Legal support staff who manage physical documents or coordinate office logistics may find their roles less amenable to remote work. Furthermore, in a completely remote setting, mentoring young lawyers and developing company culture may present greater difficulties. In order to meet the unique demands of various positions and practice areas within the legal profession, several law firms are developing hybrid models that combine the advantages of remote work with essential in-person contacts.
David Sides, PR/Marketing, The Gori Law Firm
Remote Work’s Mixed Impact on Tech Sector
For better or for worse, the ripple effects from the pandemic shutdowns of 2020 continue to have an impact on remote jobs. Because we’re four years out from the pandemic, both employers and employees are more settled and we see some trends taking shape.
For much of the tech sector and other industries that can function with a remote workforce, we’re seeing both positives and negatives; a bit of a double-edged sword on the employee and employer side:
At first we saw a general improvement in mental and physical well-being – especially for those that used to have a long drive in city traffic to reach the workplace. By no longer bearing the stress of spending hours behind the wheel, they have more time for workouts or even more sleep. On the flip side, we have more people that are worried about their mental well-being due to fewer social engagements than in-office work provided.
With the talent pool now being anywhere with an internet connection, the possibilities are endless. We see the demand for remote job postings get multiple times the applicants than location-specific opportunities. However, we’ve seen companies such as Amazon recently share that they are bringing all employees back into the office. It’s an interesting concept as their talent is on a global scale. It leaves the employer with limited options for top talent that may not be in their backyard.
With no physical workplace delineation, many employees actually end up working too many hours – since they never “leave work”. While that may be good for productivity, it can create liabilities for employers and neglect of an employee’s outside responsibilities.
Then there are those other employees who take advantage of not having a boss walking around and aren’t productive. Without on-site supervision, work can fall behind. People and projects can be more difficult to manage.
Nonverbal cues in face-to-face conversations are sometimes lost, resulting in a plethora of misunderstandings. Teams need to work harder at improving the effectiveness of electronic communications.
All-in-all, the remote workforce is ever-evolving still today. It’s not going away by any means but I think we are seeing an interesting battle play out between employers and employees for remote work.
Brenna Barnett, Senior Marketing Manager, Harvey Nash USA
Telehealth Complements Mental Health Services
I work in the mental health space, and it appears that remote work is here to stay. However, there is great importance in my field to continue to have in-person opportunities both for employees and for clients. With the advancement of telehealth, we are able to do a bulk of our work at home, depending on the demographic you serve, as in-person appointments are vital during times of assessment, crisis work, and for clients who prefer in-person therapy. The addition of remote work offers a support that we may have never had before. Appointments can be completed with less planning and scheduling in advance, talking to your therapists and doctors for quick questions without having to waste time coming in can now be accomplished, and it allows for those with transportation issues or in rural communities to obtain therapeutic services without hassle.
Carly Gelb, Psychotherapist, Carly Gelb Therapy/Accolade, Inc
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