Is all-remote the future of work?

All-remote is the future of work, as it delivers extraordinary benefits to businesses and employees, according to Sid Sijbrandij, CEO and co-founder of GitLab.

“For companies, there are unique operational efficiencies, huge cost savings on office space and a broader pool of job applicants,” added Sijbrandij.

“For employees, this structure enables off-peak lifestyles, family-friendly flexible schedules, and improved work/life harmony.”

He added that a world with more all-remote companies will be a more prosperous one, “with opportunity more equally distributed”.

Sijbrandij’s comments come as GitLab published findings from its inaugural Remote Work Report, which surveyed 3,000 professionals from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia who work remotely or have the option to work remotely.

The survey highlights the ever-increasing value employees and employers place on remote work as an alternative to traditional, in-office practices. In an era with increasing recognition and understanding that mental health and physical health directly impact employee performance, it’s undeniable that the future of work will be remote.

Darren Murph, Head of Remote at GitLab, added that the reality is that almost every company is already remote, whether you're working across floors or across continents.

“This year's report breaks down preconceived notions about remote and sheds light on its power to plant opportunities in underserved regions, make communities less transitory, and create authentically diverse teams.”

Moreover, the survey’s Australian findings indicate that a remote work environment offers many compelling benefits for both employees and organisations and results in a more motivated and loyal workforce.

All-remote Improves Employee Retention
All-remote is the purest form of remote work, and it is an approach that retains employees and attracts new talent. Fifty-two percent of the Australian survey respondents cited improved employee loyalty and retention as a top benefit to the employer by enabling a remote environment.

Employees would also consider leaving their current co-located company for a remote role (58%). Currently, more than 1 in 4 respondents belong to an all-remote organisation, with no offices, embracing asynchronous workflows as each employee works in their own native time zone. 

Debunking Remote Work Myths
Contrary to popular belief, remote employees aren’t all traveling nomads. In fact, 59% of Australian survey respondents reported they travelled less as remote employees. The 39% who view a lack of commute as a top benefit instead spend the time earned back from commuting with family (39%), exercising (38%), resting (37%) and working (34%),

Additionally, employees find themselves overall to be more productive (59 %) and efficient (48%) when working remotely. Forty percent of Australian remote workers surveyed would consider relocating to a lower cost-of-living destination, citing cost of living (37%) and lifestyle change (22%) as primary reasons.

Remote Work Enables Work-Life Balance
Fifty percent of Australians surveyed say schedule flexibility is a top benefit of remote work, while 39% cite the lack of commute and 37% say cost savings is a major benefit. Additionally, 32% reported that the absence of a commute enables employees to focus on their families without having to sacrifice their careers.

Remote Work is Here to Stay
The benefits of remote work are only going to increase, and survey respondents agree. Eighty-two percent believe remote work is the future, but it’s also the present, as evidenced by 83% who say they are already able to accomplish all of their tasks remotely. As technology continues to improve how we communicate and how businesses operate across the globe, the need for brick-and-mortar offices and consistent, on-site attendance will continue to decrease. Remote work is here to stay, and use cases for it will only multiply.