Our Economic Future Lies in the Strength of a Mobile Workforce

A mobile workforce can work any time, anywhere. Imagine having the freedom to move your work station from the confines of a sterile office cubicle to an outdoor courtyard or a quiet conference room, wherever inspiration strikes. A mobile workforce has the freedom to work from whatever location best accomplishes its objectives.

The United States workforce is evolving into an increasingly mobile one with each passing year. The growth of the mobile workforce is due largely to the proliferation of wireless technology and high speed Internet networks and Internet driven handheld devices. Another influential factor in the development of a mobile workforce is the increasing importance placed on work and life balance.

The inevitability of a mobile workforce raises some management issues for employers. One area of concern involves the nurturing of social relationships with workers who are scattered among different locations. Communications must be structured so as to fit the limits imposed by the electronic network of handheld devices that the mobile workforce uses to stay connected with the world. Its essential for management to share company news and anecdotes with remote workers so they feel a part of the team regardless of location. Employers must listen to their mobile workforce, let them know that their input is important to the team, understand their unique needs and trust them to do their job well even when they cannot look over their employees shoulders every day. A little trust goes a long way toward building solid working relationships.

Besides being beneficial to worker quality of life, a mobile workforce represents a major cost cutting initiative for management. Conversion to a cloud based technology network platform renders the company LAN network and related infrastructure obsolete. Cloud based technology gives the mobile workforce the same network access, support and service that office based workers do, without the aggravation of the daily commute. Management, in turn, enjoys the capability to secure and monitor mobile workforce activities at each user endpoint, whether company laptop or handheld. All this can be accomplished without the cost of maintaining expensive internal hardware and desktop systems.

As business has gone global, so has the workforce. This mobile workforce is made up of more than telecommuters; it also includes workers whose jobs frequently take them away from the office for extended periods. Frequently, they must be ready to pack up and go on a moments notice. This will be the norm soon enough.

Links to more