Remote Work as a Trend of Time: Results of Mass Testing

Purpose: is to study the experience of mass implementation of remote work (telecommuting) in Russian companies during the isolation regime caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, to assess the opportunities for further development of this type of labor relations and emerging trends in the labor market.

Methods: to accomplish the research tasks, universal general scientific methods are used: analysis, synthesis, abstraction, generalization, analogy, comparison, forecasting. The paper uses secondary analysis and interpretation of applied research data related to remote work issues. Also in the study the elements of statistical and structural-functional analysis are used. Results: we have studied the research conducted during the pandemic in relation to the opinions of employers and staff of Russian organizations about the experience of remote work. This made it possible to identify groups of its negative and positive factors. The main problem for everyone was the shortcomings of the organization of the remote work process, which affected the efficiency of labor. The main advantage was the economic benefits of the remote format. According to experts, today Russians have an interest and sufficient readiness for remote work. This is confirmed by the identified characteristics of the domestic labor force and data on the level of their digital literacy. However, on the part of employers, the continuation of this practice raises a considerable number of questions. Their problems are caused by a whole list of organizational factors that can neutralize the positive effect of the introduction of a new type of labor relations. At the same time, experts expect to increase the use of remote work in Russia, as well as expanding the scope of its application. The reviewed foreign experience shows a number of very successful examples of remote activities of English-speaking companies. International research reports predict a further increase in the spread of remote work. This will affect even those countries of the world where remote work was not widespread before the crisis.

Conclusions and Relevance: despite the advantages and disadvantages, the practice obtained during the isolation regime revealed the potential of remote work and played a role of a catalyst in the development of this format of labor relations in Russia. Among the main trends emerging in the labor market are: improving the legal framework of remote labor relations, developing forms of remote work and labor management, applying it in new areas of activity and increasing the staff of companies working remotely.

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