We are living in a world of ones and zeros and as we await Internet 4.0 and the Internet of Things, we are moving into a new level of digital connectivity; the rate of development is scary, with AI playing a major role in the digital world. Elon Muck has put thousands of low-orbit 5G satellites up in the past 2 years and eventually, every square foot of the planet will have Broadband Internet, which is a game-changer and with global connectivity, people can work remotely.
The pandemic
Experts say that Covid-19 accelerated the arrival of remote working by at least 5 years and many of the office workers are still working from home, even though the pandemic is over. Employers love remote work because it greatly reduces their office costs, plus the employees enjoy a new level of freedom and independence. Many businesses did not survive the multiple lockdowns and global markets have yet to fully recover.
Office/home
There is a growing number of office workers that come to the office 2-3 days and spend the rest of their time working remotely; too much office time can lead to physical issues and you might need office syndrome treatment from a top Bangkok physio. Some people suffer from lower back pain, others have neck issues and your local physio clinic can treat these conditions. Many large companies have adopted the Google model, where employees come and go and the office is open plan with zero dress code. Startups like Achievable exam prep are forgoing offices entirely, saving money on rent and giving them the flexibility of hiring from around the world.
Employee reluctance
Think about it, a person no longer has to dress up, and drive for an hour to be at the office on time; you are going to be very reluctant to return to the office after 6 months of working from home, who wouldn’t be? Employers can’t really complain, as long as targets are met and things are going well, so many businesses allow their office staff to work from home. This is perfectly natural and if the company does not suffer in any way, there’s no reason to go to the office every day.
Technology sector
Software developers all work remotely and they build products via the web, uploading to the project manager; they might have a daily Zoom meeting to discuss progress. Small tech start-ups don’t really need an office, they can use a virtual business address and use a call handling service. AI is huge at the moment and all engineers can work remotely; offices are evolving and becoming more of a social space where people can meet at the end of the week. The last 20 years have seen rapid development in all sectors and AI is the reason for this; where will it lead? Only time will tell.
Office syndrome
We all know what can happen if we sit in our office chairs for 12 hours a day; office syndrome impacts the quality of life, yet with effective treatment from a leading physio clinic, you have the knowledge to prevent further issues. Ergonomic office chairs are essential for good back support, while headsets allow you to get up and walk around while on the phone. If you think you need to see a physio for office syndrome treatment, Google can help you locate a nearby clinic.
Office syndrome symptoms
- Shoulder, back and neck pain.
- Painful fingers and wrists.
- Migraine headaches.
- Numbness in arms or legs.
- Dry eyes
Focusing on a digital screen for long periods can strain the eyes; we recommend looking away for a few minutes every half hour, which allows your eyes to change from short to long focus. Always be mindful of the time you spend in front of your computer and any issues that need to be addressed.
Voice over Internet Protocol
Known as VoIP, this revolutionary software allows video and audio to be transmitted via the Internet, without having to use a telecom carrier. The two main platforms are Zoom and Skype for Business, which empower remote collaboration; a team of 12 developers can have a virtual meeting and they can be spread around the world. Without VoIP, remote working would be difficult and recent tech development greatly increases sound and video quality. Most people use VoIP without realizing it; Facebook, Line and other apps work on VoIP technology. If you are interested in motivation, click here.
Reduce traffic
One positive to come from remote working is the clean air that replaces the polluted air of the busy rush hour traffic. The number of vehicles on the roads during rush hour is falling, while those who do travel to work using public transport. The planet has to endure so much pollution and one way we can help is to reduce the mileage we do in our cars.
Freedom & independence
There’s nothing quite like having the freedom to work when you choose; remote workers can relocate to anywhere in the world. Who wouldn’t like to live in a tropical paradise? Thailand is one of the most popular digital nomad destinations and for very good reasons. Of course, employees must be disciplined and make sure that they do their work and hand in assignments on time.
Digital technology is forging ahead at an alarming pace and the future of commerce is looking like it is in for some big changes. Of course, there will always be some employees who work in the office and some sectors are unsuitable for remote working.
If you work in an office and you have the chance to work from home, you will certainly enjoy the freedom and independence that comes with remote working and within a few years, almost all businesses will have office employees who work from home.
The world is in a constant state of change and soon we will have robots to do our daily chores and life will be very different to what it was 50 years ago.
