What is a better workplace environment: onsite or remote? With the end of the Covid- 19 public health emergency set to expire on May 11th, it seems employers and employees still cannot agree on the best location for where work is to be done—whether it’s onsite or remote.
A recent expectation from management of organizations such as Disney, Meta and Starbucks is for employees to come back into the office and report in person. Mark Zuckerberg told employees, ”It is still easier to build trust in person and those relationships help us work more efficiently”. Score a point for less employee flexibility and autonomy.
Conversely, a SHRM research study found 48% of workers will “definitely” seek a remote position for their next job. Score a point for more employee flexibility.
So which is the “just right” solution?
If you have an organization that is conducive to any type of remote work, I believe it could be a combination of both. A 2023 Pew Research Center study finds that hybrid work schedules are rising, “Some level of hybrid and remote work really seems to be becoming more of the norm”. Providing flexibility and work life balance for workers under 40, which is currently the largest percent of the workforce, is a major factor in job seeker’s career choices. Is your organization ready to respond to this trend?
Here is our story…
By early 2022 Covid had taken a toll on our culture and we realized we needed to find out what our employees thought of coming back into our Marlton office. So we conducted a survey. Listening to your employees so they feel valued and heard can increase job satisfaction and trust which lead to higher engagement. Surveying is a great way to increase employee engagement at your company.
And the survey said… “hybrid”! Our employees now have the option to work remote from home on Mondays and Fridays and come into the office on three “core days” for meetings, collaboration and team building.
The flexibility we provide our employees allow them to save on commuting time and expenses and most feel more productive. A hybrid work arrangement helps to lower stress, balance their work and life obligations all the while achieving the ultimate goal of being a positive contribution to their overall wellbeing.
Onsite or Remote: What are the Pros and Cons?
Understanding and managing a remote or hybrid workforce can take some planning. Gallup Corp. conducted an analysis and reports the advantages of hiring a remote/hybrid workers include:
- An Expanded Hiring Pool. Remote work allows you to expand your reach outside the local hiring pool to regional, national and beyond.
- Attracts High Talent Job Candidates. Remote or hybrid work was a perk but now it is becoming a requirement for quality hires.
- Helps You Keep Existing Talent. The competition for talent is increasing. Flexibility adds to the employee experience.
- Improves Employee Performance. Hire the right employee in the right role and provide them with the flexibility to perform it at the right location.
The drawbacks of remote work can be lowered if managed properly with clear expectations. Leaders must guide their teams through potential adverse effects on:
- Engagement
- Culture
- Brand
- Customer relationships
- Performance
Evaluating roles for remote work
There are three criteria Gallup’s analysis found to be optimal to determine if a role is right to be remote:
- Remote employees can perform their duties away from an onsite work environment.
- Most of the roles tasks and processes are inherently well-defined.
- The success of the role does not depend on highly interdependent work.
Want to get started?
Leaders must consider many factors when determining onsite or remote work arrangements, but with proper support and planning, remote or hybrid work can help your employees thrive. Putting your employees in a position to succeed should be your goal along with what is best for your company.
Our success story could be yours too. Imagine our team of experts guiding you on creating an environment for success. Contact us to discuss the benefits we discovered from our hybrid work arrangement.
*Source: Gallup.com