30 Years of Remote Customer Service Jobs: How Working Solutions Built the Work-From-Home Movement

This year marks a milestone that only a true industry leader can claim: the 30th anniversary of Working Solutions. We are not just participants in the remote work lifestyle; we pioneered it by setting standards and consistently redefining what’s possible in the virtual customer service world. Long before covid, we created an industry trend, setting the groundwork for what the virtual workforce looks like today. For thousands across the United States and Canada, this is more than a company anniversary; it’s a celebration of three decades at the forefront of flexibility, opportunity, and freedom. No other organization has shaped the landscape—or supported independent professionals—with the reach, results, and staying power that Working Solutions delivers.

If you are overwhelmed by the job market, needing an alternate schedule to support your family, or worried your career gap will hold you back, this company was built for you. And if you are craving flexibility, autonomy, and meaningful work, becoming a remote worker might just be your perfect next chapter. Let us explore how we built a trusted network of over 150,000 independent customer service professionals, why our people stay with us for decades, and what this means for someone like you.

How a Pioneer in Remote Customer Service Jobs Got Started in 1996

Every great company starts with a simple problem that needs solving. In 1996, the founder of Working Solutions and CEO Kim Houlne was pregnant with her first child. Facing long daily commutes and strenuous travel, she realized that traditional corporate life was no longer an option for her growing family. She needed flexibility, and she knew thousands of other professionals likely needed it too.

Kim began bringing her work home and launched a website seeking freelance professionals who wanted to do the same. The response was immediate and overwhelming. Within the first few days, over 500 people raised their hands, eager for a chance to earn an income without sacrificing their personal lives.

This initial success sparked a much bigger idea. Working Solutions became one of the first virtual workforce companies in history, helping to usher in the gig economy. We have spent the last 30 years proving that you do not need an office building to deliver world-class customer care. What followed was not just growth, but the creation of an entirely new way to think about work.

Building a New Kind of Workforce

As demand grew, Working Solutions expanded beyond a simple idea of “work from home” and into a fully developed model for virtual customer experience delivery. Instead of relying on traditional call centers, the company built a distributed network of independent professionals who could log in from almost anywhere across U.S. and Canada.

This approach solved a challenge many companies were just beginning to understand: how to scale high-quality customer support without sacrificing flexibility, speed, or consistency. By investing early in cloud-based technology, secure platforms, and structured onboarding processes, Working Solutions proved that remote work could be just as reliable, and often more efficient, than in-office operations. Location was no longer a barrier to entry.

Where Working Solutions is Today

Today, Working Solutions supports more than 150,000 independent customer service professionals across the United States and Canada. These agents and contractors power customer experiences for some of the world’s most recognized brands, all from their own homes.

But the numbers only tell part of the story.

Behind every contract is a person building a more flexible life. Parents balancing school schedules. Professionals re-entering the workforce. Career changers seeking stability without sacrificing freedom. People who want meaningful work without the constraints of a traditional office.

Why Independent Professionals Choose Working Solutions

The appeal of this model has remained consistent for 30 years, but the reasons people join continue to evolve. Today, independent professionals are looking for:

• Flexible schedules that fit real life, not the other way around.
• Remote opportunities that remove geographic barriers.
• The ability to choose assignments that match their strengths and interests.
• Income potential on their terms.
• A legitimate, established company with decades of credibility.

Working Solutions continues to meet those needs while adapting to the changing expectations of modern work.