REMOTE TEAMS CHANGING PROJECT MANAGEMENT IN THE US

Managing a project team is hard enough on its own, but it gets even harder when you have to deal with members who live in different parts of the country. Not only do you have to overcome a unique set of challenges as a result of people not always being in the same workplace, but you also face all of the challenges that you typically face during a project, such as managing client expectations and scope creep. The best advice for managing a hybrid or remote project team in the USA can be found here.

 

HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE US WORK THROUGH REMOTE TEAMS IN THEIR PROJECTS

It is essential that we investigate statistics regarding individuals who work from home in order to establish the foundation for our research on remote working teams. They will provide us with insights into the state of work at the moment and a sneak peek at what employers and employees can anticipate in the future.

1. 20% of workers are working remotely

The number of people working from home has increased to 20%, or one fifth of the workforce, in the United States. In light of the global pandemic, this has been attributed to changes in employee lifestyles and company operations. The use of more adaptable arrangements replaces traditional work environments.

 

2. Remote workers are less likely to change companies

Owl Labs conducted a survey in 2023 and found that 23% of employees switched employers. It’s interesting that 26% of people who work in an office full-time are more likely to experience this. Only 17% of hybrid and remote workers made the decision to change jobs.

 

3. Staggering amount of people wish to work remotely

98% of workers want to continue working from home throughout their careers. This figure shows that workers are increasingly wanting more freedom, flexibility, and personal time. It’s not surprising that another 98% would recommend online work to their friends.

 

WHY CHOOSE REMOTE TEAMS FOR PROJECTS?

 

1. Physical distance: companies might have teams all over the place: headquarters in San Francisco, consultants in Boston, and a sales rep in Houston.  Because project management software connects teams as if they were on different floors of the same building, you no longer need to be in the same office. 
2. Various Time Zones: working together is possible even if you are not in the same time zone. You can time shift with good project planning software, leaving tasks open for the next person to work on, regardless of when they are available. 
3. Talent diversity: instead of being restricted to talent in your city, you can recruit team members from anywhere. It’s also useful for filling gaps in your team’s skills.  You can add a remote worker to your team and get their expertise without having to fly someone across the country or remove a worker from another team. 
4. Global pandemics and other improbable occurrences: in the event of, say, a global pandemic that shuts down your office, a remote team can be a lifesaver.  Make a group of remote workers for projects and practice working remotely before an emergency occurs. That way, if something happens, you’re already set up for a switch to remote work.

 

Output and labor input growth in the top 10 industries experiencing the highest percentage-point increase in remote workers

The top ten industries experiencing the highest percentage-point increase in remote work over the 2019–22 period are depicted in the graph below as a percentage change in output and labor input (a measure of hours worked adjusted for differences in the age, education, and sex composition of the workforce). The top three industries (computer systems design and related services; publishing industries, except internet [includes software]; and data processing, internet publishing, and other information services) see significant increases in both output and labor input, with output rising much faster than labor input. 

Broadcasting and telecommunications, miscellaneous professional, scientific, and technical services, securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities, management of companies and enterprises, and miscellaneous professional, scientific, and technical services also have substantial output growth but either a small, positive labor input growth or a small decline in labor input. 

These are the other four leading industries. The remaining three industries are experiencing faster growth in labor input than in output. Thus, most of the industries that experienced substantial increases in the percentage of remote workers were able to enhance output during this time without a corresponding increase in labor.

Source: Bureau of labor statistics 

WHAT EMPLOYEES PREFER 

The balance between the days that U.S. workers want to work from home, the days that their employers have planned for them to be at home, and the days that they actually are remote has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Employers’ plans have closely followed what actually happens since 2023. However, employees still prefer a hybrid schedule and would rather work from home more than they do. 

According to Zoom’s research, approximately 25% of professional employees preferred office work in 2024, 35% preferred remote work, and 40% preferred hybrid work. Even recent college grads express a variety of preferences, with 15% preferring to work in an office, 20% preferring to work from home, and 65% preferring a hybrid schedule. 

However, there is still disagreement regarding the ideal balance between office and remote work. According to the Zoom survey, employers prefer three days in the office and two working remotely, while employees prefer three days at home. Generally, the future of work looks hybrid.  However, the “fully remote” type of remote work that existed during lockdowns is also here to stay. For those who would rather work entirely from home, this is good news. These employees are often parents or are caring for adults in need of assistance.  They might be located in rural areas or too far from their workplaces to regularly commute. Many LGBTQ+ employees and people of color have expressed a preference for remote work as a way to limit the microaggressions they experience on the job.

WHAT ARE THE FUTURE TRENDS IN REMOTE TEAM PROJECTS?

It is essential to be aware of emerging trends and adapt your management strategies accordingly in order to stay ahead and ensure success in the ever-changing remote work landscape. The following are some possible future developments in remote team management:

 

• Hybrid work models: balancing remote and in-office work preferences. 
• Analytics with AI: Using AI and data to make decisions about team performance based on data. 
• Mental health and work-life balance: these are two important aspects of employee well-being in remote management. 
• Adapting to diverse, globally dispersed teams: the global talent pool. 
• Enhanced cybersecurity: Investing in robust cybersecurity for data protection.
• Using immersive technologies for remote collaboration, VR and augmented reality are integrated. 
• Skill development: Continuous learning and development for team competitiveness.
• Eco-friendly methods: remote work policies that encourage sustainability. Remote work regulations: Adapting to evolving government regulations.
• Utilizing remote-specific performance metrics in project reports to evaluate engagement and productivity. 

 

It is essential to provide your team with the appropriate tools in order to stay ahead of these upcoming trends in remote team management.