Remote working in research: An increasing usage of flexible work arrangements can improve productivity and creativity.

Abstract

EMBO Reports (2019) 20: e47435[OpenUrl][1][FREE Full Text][2] Remote working—or flexible working arrangements—is becoming increasingly popular in scientific research, driven by both social trends and advances in technology. The major benefits—the ability to continue careers while starting families or avoiding the upheaval of moving for a temporary position—often outweigh disadvantages, such as the lack of face‐to‐face encounters around a laboratory or meetings. There are also unanticipated advantages, such as increased creativity resulting from an improved work–life balance, which has spurred not just scientific research, but also other professions to adopt flexible working. According to a survey by telecoms group Vodafone, 75% of companies worldwide have now introduced such policies, and of those 83% reported improved productivity (https://www.vodafone.com/content/index/media/vodafone-group-releases/2016/flexible-working-survey.html). > The trend for flexible work arrangements is being driven not just by technical advances, but also cultural changes as workers themselves demand greater flexibility. The trend for flexible work arrangements is being driven not just by technical advances, but also cultural changes as workers themselves demand greater flexibility. A recent survey of nearly 10,000 people working in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Spain, the UK and USA by Fuze, a provider of communications services in Boston, USA, found that 89% think that flexible working should become normal, and 54% would move jobs to obtain a better work/life balance (https://www.fuze.com/future-of-work). Research from the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) spanning five leading European countries corroborated anecdotal reports of improved productivity through flexible working and also indicated longer‐term health benefits through reduced stress. Specific data for the life sciences are sparse, but it is hard to find a laboratory, biotech or pharma company nowadays without at least some remote working arrangements. Although bench work is harder to perform remotely, a growing amount of observation and analysis can be performed at a distance. Moreover, … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DEMBO%2BReports%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.15252%252Fembr.201847435%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F30530631%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=FULL&journalCode=embor&resid=20/1/e47435&atom=%2Fembor%2F20%2F1%2Fe47435.atom