Remote Jobs and Work from Home Define Work and the Workplace

By Gregory Pings

Here’s how Forbes wrote about remote jobs and working from home:

“With mobile devices and videoconferencing technology becoming more widespread, telecommuting jobs are also becoming more common. They’re also highly coveted because they tend to offer greater work-life balance.”*

No argument here.

FlexJobs, a site that vets telecommuting job opportunities, has this to say:

“In previous years, remote work has often been described as a trend or a perk, but by reviewing this data annually for five years, we’ve seen remote work’s reputation shift from a trend to an acceptable mode of working.”**

That’s how Xerox sees it.

“It’s not enough for Xerox to have geographically diverse teams,” said Beverly Stallings-Johnson, manager of Global Diversity and Inclusion for Xerox. “To remain successful in a highly competitive market, we also must create an inclusive culture that uses innovation and technology to benefit from this diversity.”

FlexJobs points out that remote work is on the rise, and that more and more notable companies (including Xerox) support remote work.

Stallings-Johnson noted that your company culture – and your technology – must support the notion that work is what you do, not where you are. It’s another component that enables your diverse employees to bring their whole selves to work.

Xerox is a Top 100 Company with Remote Jobs

Visit xerox.com/jobs, consider a career at Xerox, and discover your potential. Xerox is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

FlexJobs named Xerox a Top 100 Company to Watch for Remote Jobs in 2018. Learn more about the Top 100 Companies.

Set the Page Free in the Modern Workplace series examines life at the intersection of technology, work and people.

This blog published a series of articles about the modern workplace, which reported on how people work today, where and when they work, and how technology impacts their work. I’m working from home as I write this, and I empathize with the people who love the freedom that technology affords them, even as they bemoan the downside of mobility and constant connectedness: information overload.

I was surprised that the idea of being productive outside the office is so deeply accepted at Xerox – even in the C-Suite. And all of that over-sharing and information overload? New technology and evolving human behavior are advancing against the problem. I invite you to read these articles from our Set the Page Free in the Modern Workplace series, and I look forward to your own insights in the blog’s comments section. I published 20 articles; here are overviews from three articles:

Even a digital native falls back on pen and paper

Maria Jose (Majo) Lopez manages digital and social media for our International Operations group. Her notebook allows her to keep track of tasks and to-do lists. “It’s an old fashioned element that keeps me grounded, and allows me to shape my ideas and focus in a different way.” Majo works mostly from home, but you will see her in our Mexico City office about once every two weeks. Her team is spread out across the globe, so her day might start at 6 a.m. with a conference call to Europe; other days, she will crank out work at 7 p.m. because it’s easier to concentrate. “It’s great to be in this era, because you can work wherever you are, and you are not tied to a place,” she said. “Your office can be the world, so long as you have the ability to adapt and connect.”  Read Pen, Paper and Technology.

The opaque walls of your office do not mark the boundaries of your workplace

Even a chief financial officer logs on after 5 p.m. Smartphones and tablets keep the information flowing for Xerox CFO Bill Osbourn, which means that his time and concentration are at a premium.   With all the technology at his disposal, Osbourn points out that people are the common denominator. Collaboration is vital, but time management is essential. Over-using technology is tempting, so we must account for the human condition and consider when sharing becomes over-sharing. Until that happens, Osbourn’s best advice is to disconnect from time to time, even if for just a few hours. “I enjoy hiking or a Cardinals game,” he said. “But I don’t disconnect as much as I would like.” Read CFO’s Work – Collaboration, Communication and Time.

New technology changes how we think and what we think about

As we reshape our thinking about technology, our work environments shift as well. Artificial intelligence will eventually catch up to our needs, says Randy Dazo, group director of Office Document Technology for Keypoint Intelligence. Hard copy and digital information from multiple sources, in multiple forms, accessible on multiple platforms arrive from all directions. How efficiently can it be collected, understood, modified and shared? Can we create software smart enough to recognize when a rare message from Aunt Sue is urgent and give it precedence over routine messages from your manager? “Technology will always give us value, and allow us to make better decisions,” Dazo said. But he acknowledges that it can overwhelm us with the sheer volume of information. Read Do Automation and AI Help the Knowledge Worker?

*Forbes.com, Jan. 17, 2018, Work From Home 2018: The Top 100 Companies For Remote Jobs

**FlexJobs.com, Jan. 15, 2018, 100 Top Companies with Remote Jobs in 2018