Sun, Sea, Laptop

WORKING FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD SOUNDS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE, BUT IS REMOTE WORK RIGHT FOR YOU?

Michelle Coulson has been working remotely from Bali, Indonesia, for the last couple of years. Prior to the pandemic, the in-house recruiter was based in London, but Michelle decided that she wanted the freedom and flexibility to explore the world. At the time, she already had a four-day remote-work arrangement with her company, but she felt it wasn't enough.

In 2020, the 36-year-old journeyed through Spain and Portugal in her motorhome before making her way to Bali, where she intended to stay for just two months.

Her company soon called her back to London, but by that point, Michelle had already built a life for herself in Bali, and enjoyed how working remotely had allowed her to forge many new connections in co-working spaces, cafes and guest-houses.

And so she quit her job and chose to remain in Indonesia. Now, the remote-work advocate uses her recruitment expertise to help others find remote jobs so that they can live the lifestyle they desire. Her start-up, Remote Rebellion, offers coaching services for people who want to transition to fully-remote work.

"I believe that people find a job that works around their lifestyle, and not have to create a life around a job in a specific location," she says.

The New Normal?

A recent survey by human resource consulting firm Randstad Singapore revealed that two in five workers here would not accept a job if they were unable to work from home, or if the job didn't offer flexible working hours.

Of the 1,000 survey respondents, aged between 18 and 67, 77 per cent also said that they value the importance of remote work, but only 52 per cent shared that their companies offered them remote working options. In addition, slightly more than a quarter of respondents said that they've quit a job because it didn't provide enough flexibility with regard to working hours and location.