by Ray Scanlon, YourPace Contributor
Remote work has changed the way many people live and work. During the pandemic, many employees traded their daily commute to work from home. This has impacted daily routines and way of living. It has also brought an extra flexibility that has allowed workers to rethink their daily routines in ways that prioritize their well-being, as noted by Forbes in 2022.
Autumn Partain, a 28-year-old former retail worker turned independent business owner, said “Working from home is definitely a positive. I don’t have to get up early and go somewhere. I can stay home, clean the house, take care of my kid, and not worry about leaving. It’s a lot less stressful.”
The only drawback is forgetting to go out and talk with people to promote the business, Partain said.
“I recommend it,” she continued. “It’s just hard to find certain types of remote work. With technology growing, it will most likely become increasingly popular.”
Artimus James, owner of the graphic design company Worldwide Wall Art in Birmingham, Alabama, said he saw a dip in his business once the pandemic struck.
“Covid was a struggle for my company, and we almost didn’t make it,” he said. “I very seriously considered shutting the doors completely. The staff I had remaining was great, though, and we kept it running.”
He took steps to keep the business going.
James spent his remaining funds to purchase equipment that would allow his remaining employees to continue to do their jobs from home. Doing that made things easier and more cost-effective.
“When quarantine orders became more relaxed, we started trying to move back into the office,” James added. “After a while, though, I started to notice that I was losing profits. I eventually narrowed it down to the cost of running the office.”
James downsized to a smaller shop in 2022 and allowed his employees to work from home.
We have had some deadline issues,” he continued. “But over all, productivity has generally increased.”
