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The Covid-19 pandemic ushered in the world's most considerable remote work "experiment," accelerating a long-term trend toward flexibility, remote work, and digitalization.
Fremont, CA: Employees who work from home (WFH) have a smaller environmental impact compared to their in-office counterparts due to the absence of a commute; however, this isn't always the case. When several environmental net consequences, such as energy and technology utilization, are considered, WFH is not a complete ecological winner. Companies concerned about environmental sustainability — and they all should be — should keep this in mind when developing remote work rules.
The Covid-19 pandemic ushered in the world's most considerable remote work "experiment," accelerating a long-term trend toward flexibility, remote work, and digitalization. During the peak of the epidemic, the percentage of persons working from home in the United States increased from 5 percent to 37 percent. As we emerged from the crisis, businesses experimented with various remote work arrangements. According to recent studies, 91 percent of remote employees want to continue working in a hybrid or remote environment, and 76 percent believe their employer will allow them to do so in the future.
Many people believe that WFH will lead to environmental sustainability because the daily trip has been virtually eliminated through successive covid-19 lockdowns. Indeed, such drastic shifts in transportation, production, and consumption patterns lowered worldwide CO2 emissions by 17 percent in April 2020, compared to high levels in 2019. However, what appeared to be an encouraging trend quickly faded: emissions are now almost back to pre-pandemic levels, even though employees aren't.
Indeed, the research indicates that WFH is not a clear environmental winner. The net impact on sustainability is determined by various employee actions, including travel, energy use, digital device, and waste management. It also depends on several contextual factors, such as housing construction and local infrastructure.
How can Businesses Help WFH Become More Environmentally Friendly?
Remote employment poses new challenges in observing and influencing habits that are important for long-term sustainability. Employees' houses are their private spheres, and companies must walk carefully not to overstep their bounds. At the same time, many employees will certainly appreciate some assistance from their company in ensuring that their WFH setup is both comfortable and long-term. Developing sustainability policies that produce co-benefits (e.g., environmental and financial benefits) guarantees firms to encourage their employees' well-being while also working towards their sustainability goals.
