Technological advancements have left no stone unturned when it comes to the professional space. People from different industries, with diverse nature of work, are seeing the impact of technology in their daily workflow.
True, the present era is marked by the IT revolution and the knowledge economy. At the same time, as more people compete for fewer resources, there is more attention on balancing development with sustainability.
Virtual offices are a big change for anyone who has worked in an actual office their whole life. Some aspects of this change are good, some are bad. In this article, we will specifically focus on how virtual office culture impacts our natural environment.
Are there ways in which virtual offices can actually minimise the disturbance caused by human activity and make the planet a better place to live in? First, we will briefly look at how a virtual office works. Then, we will look at its impact on the environment, and also some new challenges that are created because of this virtual shift. Read on ahead to find out!
What is a virtual office?
A virtual office is an official address for a company that operates virtually most of the time. This location will be the official mailing address of the company. If people want to visit an office and meet a representative in person, they can be directed to the virtual office.
Apart from that, most of the other work happens online. Employees have a full time remote role and they only communicate through emails, calls and video-conferencing. That way, the owner of the company doesn’t have to pay any lease for a big space. They just have to maintain a small space enough for mail, customer support, or any other functions that require an offline presence.
Impact of virtual offices
Reduced carbon emissions
In 2022, fuel consumption of vehicles in the US resulted in carbon emission of about 1023 metric tons! A typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide alone per year.
Virtual offices basically reduce all work-related tasks to calls, emails and meetings. Employees can work from the comfort of their home, without the daily hassle of commute. No cars, no carbon emissions, less air pollution.
Moreover, there will no longer be a rush in public transport vehicles. No crowded buses and trains with people jostling inside, already tired before the work day begins. Quieter streets, clearer skies, and more space for travellers- what a world it would be!
While it’s a subtle change, it definitely makes a difference when you see just how many cars and buses speed along city roads every day just so that people can get to work. Also, no more waiting at gas stations and constantly worrying about fuel prices- your Wi-Fi has got you covered!
Conservation of natural resources
Less use of office supplies
Office supplies cost a lot, but they are also bad for the environment. From furniture to stationery, most of the things we use are discarded in the short term, adding to a rising pile of urban waste. Moreover, the plastic in pens, staplers, chairs, etc. is not biodegradable, so it creates soil pollution in the long term.
Virtual offices won’t completely solve this problem, but at least they will reduce the consumption of these use-and-throw products to some extent. Imagine how much money, resources and space would be saved if all offices switched to virtual mode!
Paperless operations
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the average American uses more than 700 pounds of paper every year! In the last 20 years, the US has seen a record high of paper usage- 208 million tons per year. Clearly, such paper usage has a devastating impact on the environment through deforestation.
When work shifts to virtual mode, naturally people can’t work with physical documents. Remote work modes have motivated companies to transfer their daily work operations on cloud-based platforms. Today, almost every other function, from human resources to customer relationship management to accounts, can be carried out through cloud documents, digital records, and electronic signatures.
Less noise pollution
As the economy grows more uncertain, companies are starting to cut costs and become lean. Having a small team in a small space, with heavy reliance on virtual outsourcing, has emerged as a new trend in response. As a result, being in a physical office often requires people to sacrifice their personal space, and share the workspace with lots of other people, chatter and distractions.
Thanks to virtual offices, people can tune out and focus on solitary task from quiet corners in their home, or a café, or a park- whatever works best. This flexibility has allowed people to escape the noise and disturbance of a busy office, thus helping them enhance their productivity.
Challenges of a virtual office
While virtual offices undoubtedly are beneficial for the environment in several ways, the idea of a virtual office is not always easy to implement and adjust to. Here are some common challenges that employees face while working from a completely virtual mode.
Communication gaps
It’s very easy for important pieces of information to be left out while working in online mode. These communication gaps often escalate into major misunderstandings or conflicts. It leaves the employees feeling frustrated and helpless.
It’s important to have regular feedback sessions where managers listen to the difficulties employees are having. If these inconveniences are affecting productivity, then maybe a virtual office is not the right fir for your company.
Technical glitches
In a physical office, technical glitches feel like a minor obstacle. You just wait around until someone shows up to fix it, and then you’re good to go! But in a virtual mode, if you have a technical issue, it basically cuts of your lines of communication with the office- and it’s hard to feel motivated when you don’t feel like you’re present in the office.
If you are curious about virtual offices and how they impact people and the environment, we hope this article helped you get some insights into the same. Keep thinking, keep learning!
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