By Jillian Broaddus and Chuck Cusumano
We know… You’re probably sick of hearing about the post-pandemic conundrum of whether or not employees should continue working remotely or return to a more traditional workplace structure.
However, the debate is perhaps hotter now than ever, with the Society for Human Resource Management reporting that a whopping 90% of companies plan to implement return-to-office policies by the end of 2024. This announcement – which mirrors the trends we’re likely anecdotally seeing all around us – has us thinking… What truly is the best solution? Here are some of our arguments for both sides of the spectrum:
The pros and cons for complete remote work*:
Employees have more flexibility, leading to three-quarters of employees believing they have better work-life balance. However, 40% of remote workers report they struggle to determine when to “log off” when their living room is also their office.
The vast majority of employees (94%) report feeling their productivity is the same or higher working from home. On the other hand, research shows the verity of this idea is highly dependent on the work ethic and focus of the individual.
Remote work has been shown to improve overall employee happiness. Although nearly 50% of remote workers report feelings of loneliness at least once per week.
The pros and cons for complete in-person work*:
There’s no substitute for face-to-face interaction, especially when it comes to work friendships, brainstorming initiatives, and problem-solving collaboration. In fact, one Microsoft study found that new hires who met their manager in person in the first 90 days were more likely to say they were comfortable discussing problems with managers. However, this face-to-face interaction comes at a timely cost: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average commute costs an American worker nearly an hour per day.
For those with company resources, having an office can allow employees to save money on everything from office supplies to gym memberships, lunch, and more. Although this inevitably leads to higher overhead costs for the company – plus, rent!
Office workers report a stronger feeling of connectedness to their company’s mission than remote employees, as well as stronger connectedness to one another. This connectedness may come with some physical risks, such as increased chances for illness.
Now, what about the pros for a hybrid work environment? Simple – it’s the combined pros of all of the above! And the cons? Nearly NONE of the cons mentioned above. Hybrid environments could be – dare we say – the blanket solution for all companies to thrive. While “26% of people would rather get a root canal” than return to 100% in-office work, we’d surmise a majority would opt for a hybrid solution that gives the best of both worlds.
Are you struggling with a back-to-office transition, or need to talk through what would work best for your team? Reach out to us at hello@thejoshuagroup.net! We’d love to talk.
*Source of Additional Stats
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