Periodic Reporting for period 1 - REMAKING (REmote-working Multiple impacts in the Age of disruptions: socioeconomic transformations, territorial rethinKING, and policy actions)
Reporting period: 2024-02-01 to 2025-04-30
The rise of Remote Work, enabled by the evolution of digital technologies and accelerated by major shocks like the pandemic and ongoing conflicts, has grown rapidly in numerous sectors in recent years. The REMAKING project studies how Remote Working can shape ongoing structural transformations in the social and economic spheres, with the ultimate aim of delivering a policy-oriented framework based on empirical evidence.
Within this perspective, REMAKING explores the dynamics of the phenomenon, focusing on its impact on individual wellbeing, the transformation of business models, and socio-economic effects, while assessing opportunities and constraints in both urban and rural settings.
REMAKING will achieve an advanced understanding of the multiple impacts in society to learn and implement policies around planning, design and promotion of territorial socio-economic development.
Through a large survey and qualitative research involving 7 countries and 15 urban and rural areas across Europe, REMAKING project accounts for the multiple nature and implications of Remote Work across territories on 4 different case-studies: Digital Nomadism in Greece and Portugal, Post-pandemic workers in Italy, High-Skilled workers in Ireland and Enforced Remote Workers in Ukraine, Czech Republic and Germany.
Results will be translated into actionable policy frameworks and awareness campaigns targeting citizens, businesses, and associations. By engaging stakeholders continuously, results will be used to co-design context-specific solutions, share knowledge and exchanging practices, and scale them by addressing local barriers to implementation
Within this perspective, REMAKING explores the dynamics of the phenomenon, focusing on its impact on individual wellbeing, the transformation of business models, and socio-economic effects, while assessing opportunities and constraints in both urban and rural settings.
REMAKING will achieve an advanced understanding of the multiple impacts in society to learn and implement policies around planning, design and promotion of territorial socio-economic development.
Through a large survey and qualitative research involving 7 countries and 15 urban and rural areas across Europe, REMAKING project accounts for the multiple nature and implications of Remote Work across territories on 4 different case-studies: Digital Nomadism in Greece and Portugal, Post-pandemic workers in Italy, High-Skilled workers in Ireland and Enforced Remote Workers in Ukraine, Czech Republic and Germany.
Results will be translated into actionable policy frameworks and awareness campaigns targeting citizens, businesses, and associations. By engaging stakeholders continuously, results will be used to co-design context-specific solutions, share knowledge and exchanging practices, and scale them by addressing local barriers to implementation
In the first 15 months, the Consortium built a solid conceptual and theoretical framework to better understand Remote Working and its implications for people, businesses, and society.
We worked to attain several key outputs: a literature review, a case study context analysis, and a forecasting study on future trends.
• The literature review took a deep dive into how Remote Work affects things like individual well-being, how companies operate and organize the workforce, public institutions attitudes and broader socio-economic dynamics. It also helped us spot scientific gaps and future research directions.
• The forecasting study mapped out three possible future scenarios in terms of Remote Working trends using data from across Europe.
• The context analysis looked at how Remote Working plays out differently depending on local social, legal, and economic conditions—especially considering major digital shifts and recent crises like the pandemic and war.
• REMAKING also completed an in-depth analysis of Remote Work laws in 29 countries, which laid the groundwork for our first policy brief.
At the same time, project partners are getting ready for the hands-on research phase with workers and stakeholders.
On top of the scientific work, the REMAKING team was active in key cross-cutting areas like Ethics and Open Science principles.
And finally, communication was a strong focus from the start. We created a clear visual identity and set up communication channels early on to promote the project and share results both online and in person.
We worked to attain several key outputs: a literature review, a case study context analysis, and a forecasting study on future trends.
• The literature review took a deep dive into how Remote Work affects things like individual well-being, how companies operate and organize the workforce, public institutions attitudes and broader socio-economic dynamics. It also helped us spot scientific gaps and future research directions.
• The forecasting study mapped out three possible future scenarios in terms of Remote Working trends using data from across Europe.
• The context analysis looked at how Remote Working plays out differently depending on local social, legal, and economic conditions—especially considering major digital shifts and recent crises like the pandemic and war.
• REMAKING also completed an in-depth analysis of Remote Work laws in 29 countries, which laid the groundwork for our first policy brief.
At the same time, project partners are getting ready for the hands-on research phase with workers and stakeholders.
On top of the scientific work, the REMAKING team was active in key cross-cutting areas like Ethics and Open Science principles.
And finally, communication was a strong focus from the start. We created a clear visual identity and set up communication channels early on to promote the project and share results both online and in person.
Impacts of Remote Work change across places, worker profiles, business sectors, and local infrastructures. It affects the geography of work and living, shapes productivity, attract talents, enhance job satisfaction and creativity. Well-being, working and living conditions of workers and families are also influenced by Remote Workers. However, to mitigate potential inequalities and raise benefits, Remote Working needs an integrated policy framework.
The REMAKING project identified three plausible future scenarios.
• Slow-down: weak economic conditions and strong employer bargaining power, limit Remote Work expansion, with most companies enforcing return-to-office policies.
• High-growth: Rapid economic and technological growth widespread adoption of remote-first models, supported by employee preferences and competitive pressure among employers.
• Baseline: A middle ground emerges, with hybrid models becoming the norm, shaped by national, sectoral, and organisational differences across the EU.
A comparison of Remote Work policies implemented across 29 countries revealed different policies on specific issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the digital nomads' phenomenon, privacy and surveillance protection and the right to disconnect. Policymakers should focus more on establishing flexible minimum standards rather than rigid frameworks and leveraging best practices from national experiences.
The REMAKING team examined geographical data, socio-economic conditions, legislative frameworks and cultural attitudes shaping the Remote Working landscape in 7 European countries.
Overall, our analysis highlights that the implications of Remote Working are multiple, entail several areas of research and different dynamics are entwined. To achieve project impacts, future research is needed to deepen our understanding of the multiple layers and factors shaping the territorial, socio-economic and individual impacts of this phenomenon. Engagement with policy makers, business and society is crucial to raise knowledge and awareness.
The REMAKING project identified three plausible future scenarios.
• Slow-down: weak economic conditions and strong employer bargaining power, limit Remote Work expansion, with most companies enforcing return-to-office policies.
• High-growth: Rapid economic and technological growth widespread adoption of remote-first models, supported by employee preferences and competitive pressure among employers.
• Baseline: A middle ground emerges, with hybrid models becoming the norm, shaped by national, sectoral, and organisational differences across the EU.
A comparison of Remote Work policies implemented across 29 countries revealed different policies on specific issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the digital nomads' phenomenon, privacy and surveillance protection and the right to disconnect. Policymakers should focus more on establishing flexible minimum standards rather than rigid frameworks and leveraging best practices from national experiences.
The REMAKING team examined geographical data, socio-economic conditions, legislative frameworks and cultural attitudes shaping the Remote Working landscape in 7 European countries.
Overall, our analysis highlights that the implications of Remote Working are multiple, entail several areas of research and different dynamics are entwined. To achieve project impacts, future research is needed to deepen our understanding of the multiple layers and factors shaping the territorial, socio-economic and individual impacts of this phenomenon. Engagement with policy makers, business and society is crucial to raise knowledge and awareness.