4 Reasons Why Distributed Workforces Are Empowering Companies

Saša Petrović returns for another guest article to lay down his reasons why distributed workforces have benefitted companies in 2020, and will continue to do so in 2021

It’s been interesting to see how the world has changed in recent months. Companies that would never have considered remote working as an option have embraced it – and now many say they might not go back to the office at all! 

But there is still a lot of scepticism around distributed workforces. I’ve heard of companies that are worried theyre losing their creative edge because their employees can’t meet face-to-face to discuss challenges and innovative ways to overcome them. Others simply don’t trust that their employees are as productive at home. 

Of course, Citrix has been providing digital workspaces for years, and has been an industry pioneer for three decades. I’ve seen first-hand how HR leaders can empower their workforces to achieve more by enhancing the employee experience and prioritising collaboration, communication, and access to resources. 

So I’d like to lay down my thoughts on why distributed workforces are positive. 

1. Working from Home Maximises Employee Time
When companies have distributed workforces who are working from home, they effectively give back hours of time to their employees. Why’s that positive? Because time not spent commuting to the office is time employees can spend looking after themselves. The result is a more refreshed employee who is less likely to suffer from burnout – which 81% of employees believe should be a top priority for employers.

2. It’s a Chance to Close Skills Gaps
A distributed workforce isn’t bound by geographic constraints, meaning you can hire talent from anywhere. Many companies struggle to find the skilled employees they need to exceed their goals, but in an era of remote working you can attract talent from across the country, continent or world. A cohesive digital workspace can then help your distributed employees to collaborate easily.

3. Distributed Working Can Increase Job Satisfaction

Another benefit of distributed working is that employees can enjoy a better work/life balance. If companies have flexible working hours, employees enjoy greater freedom. Job satisfaction can increase dramatically as a result. It follows that companies that embrace the cultural change of distributed working see higher job retention rates, thereby freeing HR leaders to focus on other areas, like employee wellbeing.

4. Innovation Doesn’t Have to Suffer – It Can Thrive
Finally, there have been many articles online about how innovation has suffered during this time of distributed working. But I’d argue that that isn’t the case. Instead, companies have had to dream up new and exciting ways to stay competitive in the face of the global pandemic. To succeed, distributed working requires innovative thinking, and I believe that’s exactly what we’re seeing.

Is Distributed Working Here to Stay?

What do you think about distributed working? Will it be here to stay after the current and ongoing crisis?

At Citrix, we’re helping to build the systems that are keeping people connected. You can find out more about the Citrix workspace here.

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ABOUT OUR GUEST WRITER

Saša Petrović
Solution Strategist, Citrix

In his role as a Solution Strategist, Saša supports the CxOs and senior management of large enterprises to overcome the challenges posed by ever-changing and increasingly complex ecosystems. He focuses on creating a sustainable, long-term strategy in accordance to their visions and industry trends. He draws on his Enterprise Architecture background to lead his clients towards innovation while ensuring the cultural aspects are reflected to enable people to adapt to change.