Nomadic workers: who are they?

Driven by the recent boom in telecommuting and the digitization of professions, professional nomadism is no longer a passing trend, but a new form of work in its own right. While the self-employed and business owners haven't waited until recent years to work in a mobile situation, it's a relatively new phenomenon for salaried employees. Who are nomadic workers, and what is at stake in this model that is shaking up the world of work?

What are nomadic workers?

The term "nomadic worker" covers a wide spectrum of people and situations. A nomadic worker is considered to be a mobile self-employed professional or an employee who is able to carry out his or her profession and missions in places other than a company's premises.

What sets them apart is their choice of destination, which is in no way linked to their professional activity, but rather to their desires. We also note that the duration of a nomadic worker's stay in a destination is relatively short, for visa reasons in particular.

Professional nomadism is a new way of working in companies, responding to employees' needs for greater flexibility, autonomy and freedom.

Nomadic workers: who can become one?

Among all nomadic workers, freelancers and entrepreneurs are naturally the first to come to the fore. Most of them work in web- and digital-related professions, but that's not all. To carry out their day-to-day work, all they need is their computer and an Internet connection. They are free to spend their working day in their own home, in a coworking space or in a café.

If they become nomadic workers, it's by choice, by passion and by desire. Their activity offers them the opportunity to work wherever they please, in the country or city that suits their current aspirations. They can travel all the time, or settle in certain destinations for shorter or longer periods. With no hierarchical subordination, any time difference is not a problem: they adapt to the situation.

In the corporate world, some employees are nomadic workers because their profession requires them to travel frequently. But today, the trend towards professional nomadism is affecting other employee profiles, who simply aspire to greater mobility even if their missions don't require it. Thanks to the advent of telecommuting, some of them are now allowed to move around more frequently, without being forced to work in a fixed workplace. Of course, their profession must enable them to carry out all their missions in an optimal mobile manner.

In addition to being able to work in a mobile situation, nomadic workers benefit from certain qualities and aptitudes. To thrive and remain effective, they need to be able to demonstrate a certain degree of autonomy, a heightened sense of organization and discipline.

Advantages and disadvantages of mobile working

Professional nomadism is becoming established as a work option like any other in the workplace. With the abandonment of management practices based on close control over employees, the corporate space has become obsolete.

Shaken by the health crisis, employees and employers are now placing well-being at work at the heart of their concerns. The culture of presenteeism is a thing of the past, and managers are now more concerned with assessing employees' achievement of objectives than with the number of hours they spend in the office. This change in mentality has contributed to the development of professional nomadism, an advantage for employees who gain in autonomy.

Initially cautious, companies have observed that teleworking employees are far more efficient and productive, not being distracted by the nuisances of open spaces. More focused, nomadic workers also feel freer, which drastically increases their motivation. This freedom and flexibility is also experienced as a form of trust on the part of employers.

As for the disadvantages of working on the move, these are ultimately very personal. Even more than in other circumstances, nomadic workers have to be mobile by choice. Profiles that have started a family or do not wish to be permanently mobile will not appreciate this lifestyle. Being a nomadic worker means changing environment on a regular basis, having no fixed attachments and suffering from a form of social rupture with a company, its hierarchy and colleagues when you're an employee.

Nomadic workers: how to stay in touch with the company?

Companies' main concern with their teleworking or permanently mobile employees is maintaining the link. Yet they can't afford to ignore hybrid work modes and the issues they raise.

To ensure the digital inclusion of all employees working from home, in the field or on the move, they can deploy internal communications software that perfectly meets their omnichannel needs. With Cenareo, they can keep their teams informed, connected and engaged, wherever they are in the world.

Cenareo adapts and offers perfectly unified communication on screens deployed in offices, stores, factories and warehouses, visible to face-to-face employees and the PC, smartphone and tablet tools of mobile workers. At the click of a button, your campaigns are shared on your internal tools and reach all teams, who benefit from the same level of information.

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Cenareo helps companies create and deliver impactful, relevant messages instantly, to ensure an engaging employee experience. For employers who want to take their internal communications strategy a step further, Cenareo is the ideal partner for smooth, inclusive internal communications.

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