Smart working is setting the trend in the way we work today, and there is every indication that it is a trend that is here to stay. Although Many people associate it directly with teleworking., which is undoubtedly one of the key elements of smart working, is in reality much more than that.
When referring to smart working, one is talking about provide the employee with the necessary resources so that they can carry out their work completely autonomously. That is to say, when talking about smart working, reference is being made to the achievement of objectives; when these objectives are met, the employee can be considered to be fulfilling their job.
In this way, the smart working model abandoning the traditional work model based on the completion of hours at a particular job (usually an office). Instead, there is complete trust between the employee and the company, which takes care to provide the employee with all the facilities to carry out his or her task in the way he or she freely chooses.
When we talk about smart working, we are undoubtedly thinking directly about telework. However, it should be clarified that, although this is one of the fundamental pillars of this working model, it is not the only aspect that determines it. Some of the general and most important characteristics that determine what smart working is are the following:
Employees working in a smart working model are teleworkers. In other words, they do not have to travel to a traditional office or workstation, but instead work where they freely choose.
Although closely linked to remote working, mobility is another key element of smart working. Many employees who adopt the remote working model do so within specific working hours and associated with a particular location, even if it's not an office (generally their own home). In the case of smart working, even these limitations are overcome, as a smart worker can work from their own home if they wish, but they can also do so from a hotel in the mountains, at the beach, whilst travelling on a train or plane, from a café, or from a coworking space. What's more, they can do so from a different location each time. In other words, not only telework, but also have full mobility..
Another fundamental characteristic of smart working is technology, as remote working is only possible through to have a computer and an internet connection, These are the elements necessary for the smart worker to be able to carry out his or her task independently of the place where he or she is located.
Another of the characteristics that define smart working and differentiate it from mere traditional teleworking is the freedom of timetables. The smart worker does not have to keep to a timetable, He can carry out his task in the time that is necessary and in the way that he deems appropriate, as long as he meets the objectives required by the company.
Finally, the other fundamental characteristic of smart working is that it is a working model that fully adopts the target model. In fact, both offshoring and flexible hours are only possible because the employee is asked to carry out tasks linked to specific objectives. As long as the worker meets the objectives in terms of form and established time, the other characteristics of smart working can be applied.
Broadly speaking, it can be said that smart working presents more advantages than disadvantages, which explains why it is an increasingly widespread model present in very diverse sectors. However, the reality is that it also has some limitations, and it is precisely there that its main drawbacks lie.
In terms of advantages, the main one is that it greatly improves the quality of life of workers who are able to access this work model. Smart working involves major improvements in work-life balance, as the worker can manage their free time freely and organise it in the way they consider most suitable for their daily life. Furthermore, another of the most notable advantages of smart working is that reduces labour-related costs. For example, thanks to remote working, you avoid the commute to the office, as well as the expenses associated with eating out.
However, smart working also presents a major drawback, which is that not applicable to all jobs. Due to outsourcing and flexible schedules, many more traditional jobs or those reliant on fixed public-facing hours face difficulties or limitations when implementing smart working. Consequently, smart working is a growing trend primarily in jobs traditionally associated with an office, but its impact is still less significant in other sectors.
