In today’s work world, many companies are switching to a hybrid or fully remote workforce. While we may be used to the 9-5 office days, things are quickly changing and more options are becoming available. The concept of a hybrid workforce has become increasingly popular, meaning that companies are allowing employees to have some sort of combination between remote work and in-office work. As a leader, it’s important to assess the remote, in-office and hybrid models to better understand what may be best for your team.
What are the benefits of a fully remote model?
- It saves money. If your company takes on a fully remote approach, this can get rid of many different company costs, such as office space. It can also get rid of daily costs that won’t be used anymore, and these will add up (internet costs, food, office supplies, etc.) While you should still be prepared to provide your employees with adequate work-from-home materials needed for their role, overall company costs will significantly decrease.
- It allows more diversity. With a remote approach, your options for candidates and employees are much more diverse. You are no longer limited to choosing employees who are local; you have much more flexibility with choosing candidates from all over the country and even all over the world, as long as you are able to adjust for the time difference. This will allow you to choose from a much larger pool of people and encourage diversity among your team.
- It is more safe. In today’s world, many people still do not feel comfortable going back into an office and being around other people for fear of infection or sickness. To make your team more comfortable, it can be beneficial to allow everyone to stay home and lessen the risk of coming into contact with others.
What are the cons of a fully remote model?
- Communication may be more difficult. It’s much easier to communicate in person due to aspects like tone and physical cues. Oftentimes, written communication over tools like Zoom and Slack can sometimes be misunderstood and not as clear. It’s also much easier to approach someone in person and ask them a question, rather than messaging them and having to sometimes wait much longer for a response. Use these virtual team-building activities that any remote leaders can utilize!
- Employees may feel less motivated. Some employees may be less productive and less motivated when they are not in a true office environment. While this is not the case for all employees, you still need to be mindful of the ones who’s productivities are affected by it. There is always a risk of some employees doing less work when at home, and as a leader, it is something to be aware of and address when you find it is necessary to do so.
- It is harder to unplug. Many people may find it difficult to actually stop working when working from a home office Because you never physically leave an office, this can lead to continuing to work at home past hours and overworking yourself. The key to preventing this is to have some sort of “work space” in your home that is solely dedicated to working. If you share your workspace with your bedroom or your living room, it may be harder to separate work life from home life.
What are the benefits of an in-office model?
- It promotes collaboration. It’s much easier to encourage teamwork and collaboration among your employees when everyone is in the same office. Employees can more easily work together on projects and meet with each other regarding different work tasks. It also allows for daily social interaction between employees which is extremely important for mental health.
- It provides employees with work necessities. Many employees may not have the means of working from home. Whether this means not having a work space at home, not having stable wifi, or not having proper materials to do their work from home, there are many different factors that can disrupt an employee’s ability to work from home. Be prepared to know what kind of assistance your employees may need if you do offer them remote work, and provide them with whatever supplies you’re able to.
- It allows for a less distracting/more focused environment. A home working environment can be extremely chaotic for some, and having an office space to go into guarantees a focused and calm environment to get work done. A lot of professionals need to have a professional work space that is conducive to their growth, and for many this cannot be a space in their home.
What are the cons of an in-office model?
- Employees have longer working hours. When working in the office, this typically means that employees have longer working hours and less breaks. This is because there is less day-to-day flexibility for employees when they are working in the office. This can be really detrimental to your company because when employees feel overworked, it will lead to less productivity overall because of dissatisfaction.
- It costs money. There are many day-to-day costs that factor in when having an office space. These costs can be as big as renting or buying office space, and as small as small daily costs such as buying paper, coffee for the office, printer ink, etc. Finances are definitely an important aspect to consider when it comes to whether it’s worthwhile for your company to work full-time in the office.
- You must choose from a smaller pool of candidates. When using an in-office model, this means that all your employees need to be living and working locally. This drastically reduces the pool of candidates that you can choose from when you’re hiring, and can limit diversity. Because of this, you’re confined to only hiring candidates who are able to commute to your office space, which can limit your hiring opportunities.
What are the benefits of a hybrid model?
- Office costs are lowered. While it may not save as much money as a fully remote model, a hybrid model significantly lowers office costs because less people are using day-to-day supplies. It lessens spending but still allows the option for space when space is needed for meetings, conferences, presentations, etc.
- It improves employee productivity. The hybrid model allows more flexibility among employees, promoting work-life balance and ultimately increasing productivity. An article written by Forbes describes the hybrid model as the future of work, and emphasizes the model’s positive impact on employee satisfaction and productivity.
- It combines the pros of in-office and remote work. With the hybrid model, you ultimately get the best of both worlds. You utilize the pros of in-office work such as social interaction and a focused environment, while also having the pros of remote work such as employee satisfaction, candidate diversity, and saving costs.
What are the cons of a hybrid model?
- Some employees may need one or the other. You may have employees who work best in one setting but not in the other, and may not feel equipped to do both remote and in-office. As a solution, you can offer your employees to fully choose a remote model or fully choose an in-office model.
- It may limit the diversity of candidates. If you need some of your employees to be local, this could minimize the candidates that you can choose from when hiring. If you want employees to be coming into the office periodically, that means they must be within driving distance and not just a Zoom call away.
- You still need to pay for (some) office space. Office costs are lowered, but still present. Take the time to analyze your company’s daily, weekly, and monthly office costs to decide if a hybrid model would be worthwhile for your business.
For more tips on all things leading and hiring, check out our Employer Tips or contact us at mglenny@franklinprofessionals.com.
