2023 has brought a lot of relief for employers and employees alike from such a highly unprecedented health crisis that struck the world in the last two years. While the pandemic is not yet over and we should all still take protective measures to avoid infection, we can’t deny that the pandemic has offered flexibility and autonomy for Filipino employees in terms of work arrangements.
Philippine-based digital media company Rappler and The Nerve, a Manila-based data consultancy company, collaborated on a social media project where they consolidated and analyzed the tweets of Filipinos about work-from-home (WFH) and return-to-office (RTO). It was revealed that 24% of the tweets examined were completely favorable about WFH, and 2.2% were relieved that they could work from home. Most tweets were about how remote work has allowed them to avoid heavy traffic and brutal commutes while staying productive in the comfort of their own homes.
The data has made some good points toward a remote setup. Working from anywhere has a great number of benefits like time and money savings, enhanced employee performance, and improved work-life balance. However, it is not for everyone, as expressed in 19% of tweets. While most Filipinos have certainly adjusted to the WFH lifestyle, many are still finding it hard to navigate due to budget constraints, potential distractions, isolation, and the inability to separate work and personal lives.
In this article, we will look into the reasons why Filipinos choose the remote setup over traditional office-based jobs now and in the coming years.
Saves money and time
At a young age, Filipinos are taught by their parents and elders to be frugal when it comes to money. We are reminded to always save up for emergencies, pay our debts, and not splurge all our months' worth of salary in one go. So when an opportunity to cut back on transportation costs and other expenses like food and parking fees comes, Filipinos are more likely to take it.
Working remotely also saves time spent commuting, and having to travel to your work in the Philippines could get crazy. This allows Filipino workers to allot more of their time and energy to get decent sleep, spending more time with their families, and among other things.
Less commute stress
Filipinos are all about bringing home the bacon, especially Filipino Millennials and Gen Zs. Known to be extremely hardworking, competitive, and highly committed to the modern workforce, they are willing to go the extra mile just to get the job done. Unfortunately, this usually results in them having to bear unnecessary commutes that hinder their productivity and creativity.
Imagine having to put up with the stress of commuting during rush hour, and the rising prices of goods due to inflation, and you're still expected to appear and do your best when you step into the office. No amount of coffee will help you get through your daily meetings, but having the ability to work from anywhere will.
Better work-life balance
Not all Filipinos seek to be trapped in the brutal cycle of the 9-5 grind. Most have hobbies and interests they like to pursue outside of work; some are solo parents who want to give their children a secured future without sacrificing quality family time—and luckily with the rise of remote work, they can finally have the best of both worlds.
When the pandemic first struck the world, almost everything was brought to an abrupt standstill. But the digital shift allowed people to reflect and take back their lives. And a lot of global and local companies now are seeing its beauty by providing more job opportunities that promote better work-life balance.
Increased productivity and job satisfaction
According to research done by Robert Walters Philippines during the height of the pandemic, 8 out of 9 Filipino professionals claimed that they were happy with their present remote work arrangements, and 9 out of 10 say they were more productive at home. More than 90% of professionals wished to have more flexible work schedules in the future, making it a significant factor in their job satisfaction. The three major factors which caused a positive impact on their remote work experience were the lack of commute, flexible working hours, and a comfortable environment.
Growing demands for remote jobs
With remote work becoming the new norm for not just individuals but also businesses, there has been an increased demand for remote jobs. In a report by JobStreet Philippines, work-from-home job searches have climbed by 88%, home-based job searches have increased by 79%, and freelance job searches have also jumped to 94% ever since the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) was first announced in the nation. The top five industries were shown to be:
1. Call Center/IT-enabled Services/BPO
2. The public sector
3. The education sector
4. Banking and financial services
5. Computer and Information Technology
Spend more time with family and loved ones
Nowadays we see more and more Filipino employees turning their backs on full-time employment to seek remote jobs. Some even entered the e-commerce space and freelance work just to dedicate more of their time to their families and loved ones.
Having to work during the pandemic feels as though we are going into battle without armor. What more if we are taking public transportation, leaving ourselves vulnerable to catching COVID-19, close contact, and infection anxiety? But remote work covers that and gives us a chance to recalibrate and spend more time with those we care about.
Remote work done right with UpStaff Remote
There is no doubt that remote work is here to stay, and would always be the preferred work arrangement for most employees and employers. Granting a fully remote work policy may turn out to be one of the best decisions you can make for your company. But to make your business successful in the new remote world, you would need an efficient remote team.
Partner with UpStaff Remote, the worldwide leader in offshore accounting. We at UpStaff can assist you in finding and hiring the top candidates to work remotely from home, as well as managing them. Send us an email at info@upstaffremote.com and we'd be more than happy to help kickstart your business here in the Philippines.