Remote or In-Office?
With the covid pandemic, the world saw a massive rise in remote and hybrid positions. But, as the world has recovered, some companies have been steering back to in-office working.
This raises the question, which strategy is better as an employer?
Remote work has its drawbacks. It can be more difficult to coordinate between coworkers, especially without in-person team meetings. Additionally, onboarding can be more challenging when new hires aren’t meeting their new coworkers and getting familiar with the environment. Some even argue that remote work is less productive than in-office work.
More Time
However, the same argument can be made the other way. A celebrated study that tracked 60,000 Microsoft employees over the first half of 2020 found that remote work triggered a 10 percent boost in weekly hours. This, in part, is caused by a decrease in commuting time. Another study based in 27 countries found that remote workers saved an average of 72 minutes a day in commuting time, giving them more time to focus on their own well-being. This can be incredibly helpful in keeping your employees mentally and physically healthy.
Higher Productivity
Acknowledging the potential problem areas with coordination and productivity with remote work, it’s important to have fundamental processes in place that make coordination simple and easy. Through effective communication and the implementation of software that makes online collaboration easier, high productivity can be reached. In fact, in a pre-pandemic study of employees in a Chinese travel agency found a 13% boost in performance of remote workers over in-office. Effective management and creating an environment for remote workers to thrive can not only eliminate issues but make remote work even more productive than in-person.
Better Talent Attraction Another important factor to consider is how offering remote positions can attract employees. In polls taken by Gallup Polling, the share of Americans who prefer to work from home or hybrid is up from 40% in 2019 to 94% in 2022. Nearly unanimously, employees want the option to work remotely, and offering that option can be a dealmaker in finding and retaining talent. In fact, after Airbnb announced it’s “Work from Anywhere” policy, the company has seen over 1 million visitors to its jobs page. Offering remote positions can greatly increase your visibility and reach in the talent pool.
At the end of the day, remote work has its drawbacks, but it also has major advantages. While some companies are turning back to only in-office positions, others have found that the benefits of remote work far outweigh the drawbacks.
When considering what to offer within your company, it’s important to consider all the factors, but don’t forget how beneficial offering remote positions can be. And if you need help attracting the right talent, feel free to get in touch with us at the link below!