Embracing the Freedom: Work from anywhere

If our products can be used from anywhere, we should also be able to work from anywhere.

~Sukhbir Dhillon, CEO @Addteq

I am an independent, progressive, career-oriented woman who started embracing Work from home/ anywhere after becoming a mother. The reason was straightforward, I did not want to compromise my professional world and my parenthood journey. I wanted to support my child’s upbringing along with my office job. But then thanks to the contemporary approach followed by many employers picked up the trail of the remote work concept.

Work from anywhere was forced on the IT sector during COVID-19, and now is in full bloom. The traditional concept of a fixed office location has undergone a significant transformation. This shift is not just a response to the new challenge; it is a fundamental change in how we work. This blog explores the importance of ‘work from anywhere’, compares it to a hybrid or full-time office, and highlights the advantages for both employees and employers. Additionally, we will portray key considerations to ensure sustained productivity in a flexible work environment.

Why Work from Anywhere Is Important for Employees:

Working from anywhere contributes to a healthier work-life balance and increased job satisfaction.

1. Enhanced Work-Life Balance: Embracing the freedom to work from anywhere enables employees to balance their professional and personal lives better. In a remote work culture, employees are no longer confined to physical office space. Therefore, they can better design their workdays according to their needs and preferences.
2. Increased Productivity: Working from anywhere can boost productivity. It allows employees to choose environments that suit their working style and saves time and energy from traveling to an office. Some individuals thrive in the tranquility of a home office, while others like vibrant co-working spaces, coffee shops, parks, etc.
3. Cost Savings: Working from anywhere can result in significant cost savings. Employees can save money on commuting expenses, work attire, etc. Employees not living in the same location as the office can also save significantly on If the employee on relocation costs and in some cases rental costs as well.
4. Time Savings: One of the significant benefits of working from anywhere is Time time-saving benefit. Instead of spending hours stuck in traffic or cramped public transportation, employees can use that time to start their workday earlier, catch up on tasks, or simply enjoy some extra sleep. This not only reduces stress but also adds valuable hours to their day.
   Addteq’s remote culture allows its employees to choose their work shifts and create a schedule that aligns with their peak productivity hours and personal commitments. Whether they’re early birds or night owls, Addteq people can structure their workday to maximize efficiency and minimize distractions.
5. Individual Autonomy: Working from anywhere acknowledges the diverse needs and preferences of employees. Unlike a mandatory hybrid model, which still imposes a fixed schedule in the office, or a mandatory full-time office setup, which limits flexibility entirely, working from anywhere empowers individuals to choose the balance that works best for them.

Working from anywhere also creates a lot of unforeseen advantages. One of my colleagues had to travel to Srinagar, J&K for a week but had only 3 days of Holiday remaining in the year. So instead of being on leave on all days for this duration, he just opened up his laptop in nature’s lap and worked with a fresh mind, refreshing thoughts, and found himself more prolific. Don’t worry about taking leaves, getting them approved beforehand.

Benefits to Employers:

1. Employee Well-being: Offering the freedom to work from anywhere demonstrates an organization’s commitment to the well-being of its employees. Reduced commute times, flexible schedules, and personalized work environments contribute to lower stress levels and increased job satisfaction.
2. Talent Retention and Attraction: Employers that embrace flexible work arrangements are more likely to attract and retain top talent. Job seekers these days increasingly prioritize flexibility, and providing the option to work from anywhere is a significant differentiator for Addteq.
3. Access to a Global Talent Pool: For employers, adopting a remote work model opens the door to a global talent pool. The geographical constraints of hiring are diminished, providing Addteq with the opportunity to attract and retain top-notch professionals regardless of their location.
   Addteq is headquartered in New Jersey but has less than 25 employees in more than 7 locations. I along with my few colleagues residing in our native places, and working for Addteq dilate its geographic boundaries.
4. Operational Efficiency: Addteq has highly benefitted from enhanced operational efficiency. Remote work often leads to reduced cost of operating an office space. Addteq has finally converted its CapEx of Office expenditure to OpEx for employee management.

Work From Anywhere: Global workforce for small companies

1. Decide to go remote: A half-hearted push won’t make it. Run a pilot project with one team fully remote and see if remote work suits your org. Adopting a remote-first approach allows small companies to tap into a global talent pool without the need for physical office locations in multiple countries, even they can hire the best candidates regardless of their geographical location, enabling them to build a diverse and highly skilled workforce.
2. Measure employee productivity: Employers need to ensure that employee productivity is fairly measured while developing remote work culture. Managers should explicitly communicate expectations regarding deliverables, timelines, and quality standards. Focus on the output or results achieved by employees rather than the time spent on tasks.
   Addteq achieves this by setting KRAs, KPIs, and measures of the KPIs well in advance.
3. Streamline SOPs: To keep everyone at different geographies aligned with the Company’s processes in remote culture, document all key processes, workflows, and procedures involved in your company’s operations.
   SOPs should contain clear and detailed instructions on how to perform tasks, including step-by-step guidelines, checklists, and best practices. Use visual aids such as diagrams, screenshots, or videos to enhance understanding.
4. Onboarding Platforms: Companies can hire top talent at locations where they don’t have registered offices. You can use Global EOR (Employer On Record) platforms like Rippling, Remote, Oyster etc. In a remote work culture, no need to have a legal entity at every location from wherever you hire.
5. Utilise Technology: Organizations should invest in digital tools and technologies that facilitate communication, collaboration, and project management across distributed teams. At Addteq we use Slack, Zoom, JIRA, and Confluence to ensure that employees work effectively regardless of their location.

Conclusion

Embracing the freedom of working from anywhere isn’t just about where you work—it’s about how you work, collaborate, and thrive in a world without boundaries. It empowers employees to do their best work regardless of locations, and creates a future where work knows no limits.

The true value of working from anywhere lies not only in the tangible benefits, but also in the intangible sense of freedom, autonomy, and fulfillment it brings to individuals globally.

So, let’s embrace the new progressive journey. It is time to break the traditional office norms, redefine the way we work, and create new remote connections.

Learn more about our Addteq here.