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Remote Work in Europe, 2030

2020 will be remembered for many things related to Covid-19, including one of the biggest experiments in remote working. But, as we move beyond a crisis response, how could a remote working revolution shape the future of work and our lifestyles in the next decade? What does the working environment for the Decentralised Generation look like?

Report Partner:

To learn more about how remote work will shape society and careers in 2030, download the full report.

Home office and remote work have entered our lexicon and thoughts at an unprecedented rate. But, as most of the conversations focus on how remote working looks today, we want to explore how a large scale shift to telecommuting might change our lives in Europe by 2030. 

With 54% of managers promising to make remote work a permanent option for their employees, how we conceive of work and choose where to live will radically change. Cities might not see the growth predicted, employers and employee relationships will change, and even our governments will have to adjust.

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How could a decoupling of work and the office change cities?

To learn more about how remote work will shape society and careers in 2030, download the full report.

Cities have been growing since the industrial revolution. And, while they boast better access to amenities, the price, crowds, and pollution make them undesirable for many.  

Gentrification and the pull of talent to these cities - or brain drain - has become an increasing problem for both rural localities and cities. Brain drain reflects the lack of economic opportunity, and in turn increases it as talent leaves, and gentrification drives the price of cities up, making them too expensive for incumbent residents. 

One of the greatest remote working benefits, even for part-time remote workers, is greater choice in where you live. With centralised office work declining, some may be able to cut their daily commute. This will lead to an increase in suburb-dwellers, seeking more space and lower prices, while others will have even more options.  

How will quality of life change, when jobs no longer determine where we live? Which lifestyle cities will boom? And will rural communities be saved by the rise of remote-first villages?

How will greater flexibility change our careers and rights?

To learn more about how remote work will shape society and careers in 2030, download the full report.

Freelancers are one of the fastest growing sectors. And while these careers are prized for the greater flexibility, they come at the cost of many legal protections and social benefits.  

Laurel Farrer, CEO and Founder of Distribute Consulting, pointed out:

  • ‘It's critical that regulations catch up to the hypergrowth of remote work as quickly as possible for the protection of our global community’. 

But, while protections need to be in place for all remote workers, multi-career workers and freelancers are particularly vulnerable. 

What if the EU delivered on a joint remote working policy, that granted multi-company employees the same access to services and protection as traditional employees? These laws are being passed at the national level, but to truly deliver freedom of movement, the whole EU must act. 

With better integration, the EU could be a leader in remote working guidelines and policy globally. 

How will work for the Decentralised Generation look?

To learn more about how remote work will shape society and careers in 2030, download the full report.

The European Commision already accepted decentralisation of work due to better digital communication networks, like Whereby. But, as the shift to remote work during Covid-19 proved, while it’s not impossible, there are still several issues to be addressed.  

Studies show that mothers and women of colour have been forced out of work at greater rates due to insufficient childcare. While school will not always be remote, and can off-set these issues, for a global job market and remote work that truly benefits both employers and employees, policies must be instated to support these populations, and ensure that work hours remain reasonable. 

However, with best practices in place, good legislation, and smart hiring and salaries, the improved flexibility of remote work could deliver the higher quality of life and the increased options the Decentralised Generation expects and digitalisation promises.