What Is Remote Work? Your 2024 Guide

Remote work opportunities have existed for some time, but in recent years, they have become increasingly accessible to the wider workforce. More and more employers are allowing employees to work from home or other remote locations with less or no time in a physical office. 

An Upwork report suggests that remote work is here to stay, with a large increase in remote positions following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the remote workforce is predicted to grow to 36.2 million Americans by 2025 [1], representing an increase of 16.8 million from pre-pandemic rates. 

What does it mean to work remotely?

Working remotely means working at home or from another location outside a company's usual place of business. Since the pandemic, remote employment has become the norm for many, with co-working spaces, home offices, and hot desking options available. 

Remote work became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, with over a third of US businesses increasing teleworking across various sectors [2]. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) cites a 34.5 percent increase in teleworking in 2021 across the private sector, with 60.2 percent of companies expecting it to continue [2]. 

Types of remote work

Given that remote work has become so widespread, the types of remote work vary significantly from web design and copywriting to running full online businesses. Remote work is generally anything that can take place in a virtual workplace. It includes work that doesn't need to happen in a physical environment, such as writing, research, data analytics, and talking on the phone. This Rules out roles that take place largely in person, like delivery driving, construction workers, and store sales assistants. That said, even in-person roles such as health care services and therapy have, in some cases, moved online. 

When it comes to remote work, you have options. You may be able to work fully remotely, have flexibility, or partake in a hybrid working arrangement.

Fully remote work environment

Working fully remotely means that you have the freedom to work wherever you like. This may include at home, in a co-working space, a serviced office, a cafe, or even a travel destination. As long as you station yourself at a place that makes it possible to do your job, your workspace could be anywhere. Many companies have embraced a fully remote working environment, such as GitLab, Shopify, and Hubstaff.

Hybrid work environment

As returning to the office following the pandemic became an option, many companies offered staff a hybrid work model. This gives employees the combined benefits of working from home for part of the week and having the benefits of the office environment for the other part.

Consider hybrid work to benefit from the advantages of working at home and in the office. This could help support your mental health and productivity, reduce office space costs, and promote work-life balance.

Flexible work environment

Flexible working is possible whether you work remotely, in an office environment, or as part of a hybrid work arrangement. It is an agreement between you and your employer that allows you to work on your own schedule by clocking a set number of hours a week however you like. This allows you to factor in work-life balance, family commitments, and the times you are most productive. 

Advantages of remote work

Working remotely comes with benefits that allow you more freedom and, in some cases, the ability to plan your own schedule. Advantages include:

• Increased productivity: Remote workers are more productive. According to Great Place to Work, 30 percent of executives believe their teams are more productive from home than in the office [3].

• No commute: Not commuting to the office frees up time for personal use and reduces transportation costs.

• Easier recruitment: While virtual recruitment takes some time to acclimate to, the benefits are clear now that it’s here. Not having to recruit from a specific location widens the net, meaning more diverse talent can apply for positions, creating a bigger pool for recruiters. 

• Work-life balance: The freedom of remote working means you can plan your schedule, work from wherever you like, and have more personal free time. 

Disadvantages of remote work

While you’ll find many advantages to remote work, it does come with some challenges, often depending on the nature of the work:

• Decreased productivity: While studies show increased productivity for remote workers, other cases have reported the opposite. Remote work can lead to less structure, more time spent coordinating team meetings, fewer one-on-one chats with supervisors, and fewer networking opportunities. As uninterrupted work hours shrink, productivity can decline with them. 

• Lack of team spirit: Working remotely can be lonely. While it’s possible to have virtual meetings, those friendly exchanges in the office, lunch breaks together, and quick pleasantries are missing when you don’t meet your team face to face. This can lead to feelings of isolation, and it’s important to intentionally connect with colleagues virtually to foster meaningful relationships. 

• Micromanagement: Some see benefits in terms of work-life balance and the freedom to set schedules, but these are not always seen as benefits. For some, working remotely can mean more intense input from management and instances of micromanagement. 

• Risk of technology failures: Working remotely means you depend on certain equipment and a good internet connection. If you need better connectivity or have other technological issues at home, this could affect your productivity and quality of work. 

Types of jobs that can work remotely

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many jobs have moved to remote working, even those that didn’t previously seem possible. Some of the most common roles and their salaries include:

• Accountant: $73,425

• Copywriter $70,871

• Editor: $61,842

• Web designer: $69,014

• Software developer: $100,081

• Tutor: $67,273

• Customer service representative: $40,028

• Project manager: $87,320

• Recruiter: $60,775

• Sales representative: $70,830

• Data analyst: $83,495

• Consultant: $88,851

* All annual base salary data is sourced from Glassdoor as of May 2024 and does not include additional pay, such as commission and benefits.

Where can I find jobs that offer a remote workplace arrangement?

Remote work is becoming so widespread that you can search for remote and hybrid employment on most job boards, such as LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, and freelance websites like Upwork. 

You can also find government departments that hire remote workers, including:

• US Census Bureau

• US Department of Transportation

• US Department of Defense 

Some job boards specialize in remote work and are a good starting point as they have a wide range of options. Websites to start your remote job search include:

• FlexJobs

• Outsourcely

• We Work Remotely

• Remote.co

• Hubstaff

• SkipTheDrive

• Dribbble

Is remote work right for me?

Now that you know what remote work is, you can assess whether it is right for you. Remote work has some great benefits, but it isn’t for everybody. It could be right for you if you are autonomous, adaptable, enjoy working on your own schedule, and like to work alone. If you like to travel or want to work from home, it gives you the flexibility to do so and can aid you in achieving a positive work-life balance. 

Working remotely has some very positive benefits regarding the freedom to work where you choose. Still, it’s also important to consider how your working environment will impact your ability to work. Creating a workspace without distractions, excellent internet access, a comfortable chair and desk space, good lighting, and the necessary equipment are essential. 

Next steps

Remote work includes work environments that are fully remote, hybrid remote, or allow flexible schedules. Working from home could increase your productivity and improve your mental health. If you think remote work might be for you, it may be worth approaching your current employer to discuss potential remote working arrangements.

Looking to improve your workplace and technical skills for a remote role? Consider earning a Professional Certificate to add to your resume, such as the Professional Skills for the Workplace specialization offered by UC Davis, or the Professional Success Skills Specialization offered by the University of Illinois-Champaign on Coursera.