Remote Work: A Temporary Pandemic Solution - or the New Norm?

The need to switch to remote work on a wide scale took everyone by surprise in the early months of 2020 as the covid pandemic made it unsafe to be in close quarters with coworkers. Businesses adapted to the unprecedented circumstances as efficiently as they could, having been, for the most part, unprepared to meet the requirements and adjustments that would prove necessary to keep their businesses up and running. Eventually, over the course of the next months and years, working remotely became the norm among the majority of employees. Together, they and their employers became acclimated to the challenges of this new configuration of work; and over the past three years, employees have come to appreciate the benefits of remote work - and have even begun to expect it as a perk of their job.

Many employers accepted the practice of work-from-anywhere because they simply had no choice if they were to remain in business. Now that the world is a bit safer and life for most has returned to a version of pre-pandemic, however, some employers are eager to return to a largely in-office working situation. They cite concerns over management’s ability to monitor and ensure productivity as their primary reason for preferring employees return to the workplace. Another concern is the loss of "office culture" that they believe is a major part of promoting team morale.

But employees, for the most part, have a different opinion on the subject. and there’s research to back them up. A survey titled, "State of Remote Work 2021" revealed that while nearly seventy percent of full-time workers in the United States worked remotely at some time during the COVID-19 pandemic, productivity did not suffer; in fact, ninety percent of those surveyed said they were as productive working remotely as they were in the workplace.

And working remotely could offer other benefits for employees. The same survey found that, "of those working from home during the pandemic, seventy percent found virtual meetings less stressful, and 64% now prefer their meetings to be virtual."

Bottom line, according to an article on Forbes, as many as one-third of workers whose jobs can be done remotely say they still work from home full-time.

How can the desires of those employers who want a return to on-site work and those of employees who’ve discovered they’re as productive and even more comfortable working remotely be reconciled? One solution may be a compromise of sorts: hybrid work - a mix of onsite and remote work. Forbes, in fact, says, "Some level of remote or hybrid work really seems to be becoming more of the norm."

They go on to say that 71% of employees wanted a hybrid or remote working style after the pandemic. In comparison, only 29% viewed being in the office full-time post-pandemic as a preferred working arrangement.

It’s clear that the desire for a hybrid work situation is here to stay; because of the pandemic, the concept of "work" has forever been transformed. Employees, having had a taste of the flexibility - in where, when and how they work - are unwilling to return to more restrictive working arrangements. It’s important that employers keep this newly-acquired employee point of view in mind as they plan working arrangements into the future to help ensure the satisfaction of their workforce.

Are you willing to take into consideration the desires of your workforce regarding remote work as you move forward?