
Remote work has changed the way we think about the future of work in all walks of life. But is it "surviving" as a concept? Experts warn about the risks, along with the benefits...
Albania experienced a marked increase in remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the prospects looked favorable for it to continue working in the future. This way of working offered flexibility and new opportunities for employees, companies and the economy in general.
However, it has also brought challenges and risks that must be resolved in order to achieve maximum benefits. In order to achieve success in remote work in Albania, it is important that companies and employees develop appropriate strategies, provide the necessary resources and support, as well as solve the technical and social challenges that come their way.
Experts in the field also claim that remote work in Albania has the potential to change the way we work and interact in the professional environment.
"With the right attention and measures, this way of working can bring great benefits to employees, companies and the Albanian economy in general. On-remote employment has offered many benefits to employees in Albania.
It has brought time and place flexibility, allowing them to organize their time more efficiently. Employees have more freedom to set their own schedule and fit personal life around the way they work.
In addition, remote work has reduced transportation and infrastructure costs, allowing employees to save money and time," says entrepreneur and IT professional, Said Dulevic.
However, this way of working is not without its challenges. According to information received from the market, some of these include the lack of a clear separation between personal and professional life, sometimes interruptions in the Internet network and lack of physical interaction with colleagues.
With the improvement of internet infrastructure and the implementation of appropriate strategies for managing these challenges, remote work in Albania has the potential to grow even more in the future.
"In today's time, when technology gives us great opportunities, remote work is an option that companies and employees should consider.
As we explore how to adapt to this new work model, it is important to understand its challenges and benefits, and to develop the right strategies to achieve success.
In Albania, remote work has a bright future and we are invited to prepare the ground to increase its potential and benefit from technological advances", entrepreneur Dritan Mezini, head of DuaPunë, tells "Monitor". com.
The situation today
Yes, there are many Albanians who continue to work from home (remotely) in Albania, especially in sectors where work is based on technology and the Internet, - says Mr. Take a look at the statistics provided by the employment portal.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the growth of remote work, becoming a preferred option for many companies and individuals.
Telecommuting offers several advantages, such as flexibility in working hours, elimination of travel and traffic time, and the opportunity to work in a preferred personal environment.
For Albanians, remote work is an opportunity to work for foreign companies, to cooperate with colleagues and international clients and to benefit from the global labor market", - affirms Mr. Mezini
But not every profession is suitable for remote working.
"If you are interested in remote work in Albania, it is important to look for opportunities in sectors that offer more flexibility, such as computer programming, graphic design, digital marketing, translation services, technology consulting and many others," he says.
Despite the challenges of remote work, some companies and individuals in Albania have managed to adapt to this work model and have achieved success.
"It is important for employees and employers to use technology and develop appropriate practices to minimize challenges and work efficiently in this way of working.
If the resources are available and the work is well organized, we have let the employees work from any corner of the city or further afield", entrepreneur Tomi Kallanxhi claims for "Monitor".
Skepticism with the passing of COVID
Remote work, while it broke down many barriers and mentality among Albanian employers and grew in Albania, still has different practices among employers.
"There are companies and organizations in Albania that accept and practice remote work, especially in the technology and information, finance, marketing, consulting, etc. sectors.
However, it is true that some employers in Albania may be skeptical about remote work.
This can happen for various reasons, such as the lack of experience in managing remote employees, doubts about the productivity of employees working outside the office, the need for frequent communication and coordination, etc." - says Denisa Kele for "Monitor". , entrepreneur in the field of IT.
According to her, the COVID-19 pandemic brought a temporary increase in the acceptance of remote work, forcing many companies to change their employment methods in order to maintain their operations.
This has shown that remote work is possible and that employees can be productive even outside of traditional offices.
But, in today's reality, it is very little implemented in Albanian companies.
"With the passage of time and the knowledge gained from the remote work experience, it is expected that more employers in Albania will accept this way of working and look at the benefits it offers.
Internationally, there is an increasing trend of remote work and digitization of work processes, so Albania will also follow this trend.
Employers should consider the advantages and challenges of remote work, providing the right infrastructure for efficient communication and collaboration, evaluating work results, and managing the balance between the personal and professional life of employees", says Mrs. Kele.
CHALLENGE
Remote work in Albania faces some special challenges. According to information received on the market from employers of companies that fully applied after the pandemic are:
-Internet infrastructure: Internet speed and stability can be a challenge in some areas of Albania. The impact of a poor Internet connection can have negative consequences on productivity and communication.
-Lack of remote work culture: Remote work is relatively new in Albania and is not widespread in all sectors. Due to the lack of sufficient experience in this work model, there may be difficulties in organizing work, managing time and coordinating remote projects.
-Lack of personal interaction: In Albanian culture, personal interaction and meetings are of particular importance. Remote work can affect the lack of these face-to-face meetings and interactions, which can pose challenges to effective collaboration and communication.
-Limitations of time and work area: Remote work can bring challenges to the balance between personal and professional life, as there can be difficulties in defining clear boundaries between the two spheres.
For some employees, dividing time and focusing attention on work can be a challenge, especially in noisy environments or with many interruptions.
-Isolation and lack of social interaction: Remote work can lead to feelings of isolation and lack of social interaction. If social activities and remote communication are not well organized, employees may feel isolated and lose touch with their colleagues. This would affect their productivity.
The effect of telecommuting on productivity
The effect of telecommuting on productivity is an issue that has caused debate and has had differing opinions. Some studies and company experience have shown that remote work can have a positive impact on productivity, while others have shown potential challenges and risks.
"One of the main advantages of working remotely is the time and location flexibility it offers. Employees have the opportunity to organize their time more efficiently and adapt to individual preferences.
For some people, this freedom allows them to be more motivated and focused, increasing productivity.
At the same time, telecommuting can present challenges for some employees. Lack of clear separation between personal and professional life, social distancing and lack of physical support from colleagues can have a negative impact on productivity and motivation.
Also, technical difficulties such as the interruption of the Internet or the lack of necessary equipment can hinder productivity", - asserts sociologist Marsida Simo.
According to her, the effect of remote work on productivity depends on many factors such as the type of work, individual characteristics, management style and how tasks are organized.
Companies and employees must develop appropriate strategies to improve productivity in this context, including regular communication, defining the clarity of tasks and providing the necessary technological resources.
"It is important to assess how an organization or specific individuals feel about remote work and take measures to adjust and improve productivity according to their individual needs," adds Mrs. Simo.
Referring to world studies, according to her, there are several factors that can affect the productivity of remote work:
1. Time flexibility: Telecommuting can offer employees more flexibility in their work schedule. This can allow employees to better fit their most productive schedule and make better use of their time.
2. Lack of physical interruptions: Remote work eliminates travel time and physical interruptions such as frequent meetings, unscheduled conversations, and other distractions that can affect productivity. This can allow employees to better focus on their tasks.
3. Work environment: Some employees may feel more comfortable and relaxed working in their preferred environment, making them more productive. While for some others, the impact of the different environment can have a negative impact on productivity.
4. Communication and collaboration: If there is no effective communication and collaboration between employees and other colleagues, remote work can lead to poor coordination and lack of interdependence knowledge. This can have a negative impact on performance.
5. Personal motivation: Some employees may be more motivated when working remotely, having more responsibility for managing time and achieving task results.
While for others, the lack of motivation from the office environment and personal interaction can affect their productivity.
Work-Life Balance
Discussions on the "future of work" and how technologies and digitization are having a profound impact on employment opportunities are becoming more and more common.
Work-life balance is also rising in employee demands, with more people wanting to be able to decide how to use their time and reconcile their work with family and private life.
"While this may be an aspiration for some, for others it is a basic need: with insufficient provision of care for children, or other family members, the ability to work flexibly may be the only option for many, especially women.
"Smart work is a type of flexible work engagement that can help many families reconcile work and family life, but also a tool in the hands of businesses to review the relationship with workers and the community around them," says Ms. Simo. Deada Hyka/Monitor