Many industries have become increasingly open to the idea of allowing their employees to choose to work remotely. The pandemic gave companies the opportunity to implement workplace strategies that incorporated telework for their employees on a comprehensive scale for the first time.
While working remotely allowed for businesses to operate successfully during the height of the pandemic, things are now returning to normal, and employers are trying to decide what their next move should be. Here are some of the pros and cons of requiring remote workers to return.
Pro: Productivity Rates Often Increase among Remote Workers
Traditional workplace settings are not known for their warm, inviting atmosphere. Temperatures are often incredibly cold, employees may feel forced to make small talk throughout the day, and no one enjoys sitting inside a cubicle all day long. It's easy to see why productivity in a traditional workplace setting is not as high as one would assume.
It's been shown that employees are much more productive when they feel comfortable in the setting around them. The comfort and familiarity of one's own home can have a significant positive impact on productivity and time management.
Pro: Remote Workers Tend to Have a Better Work-Life Balance
How many employees have stayed at the workplace through the small hours of the morning in order to complete a project? The reason office workers in so many industries find it difficult to leave work at five is that they feel the pressure to make a good impression by staying as late as possible. No one wants to be the first employee to make a beeline for the door at five o'clock, which can lead to everyone staying much later than necessary. By allowing people to work from home, that pressure to stay late diminishes, which in turn promotes a healthier work-life balance.
Pro: Remote Workers Have a Healthier Lifestyle
Because people who work in offices tend to remain sedentary for most of the day, rates of obesity and weight-related diseases are higher in this population. When employees are given the opportunity to work in their own homes, they have the flexibility in their schedules to incorporate small blocks of physical activity throughout the day.
An employee would likely feel silly if they stood up and performed a set of calisthenics for a few minutes several times a day in front of their coworkers. Working remotely means that employees can get up and move throughout the day without feeling awkward or silly.
Con: There Can Be Communication Gaps between Remote Workers
Though working remotely does have a significant number of positive attributes, there are also a few potential causes for concern. Interpersonal communication between remote employees and traditional employees has been shown to be negatively affected by a remote worker's distance from the workplace.
It's simple to walk over to an employee who is just a few feet away from the office and ask for their input on a project. Feedback is often delivered instantaneously, and projects flow along quite smoothly.
Unfortunately, remote workers have to rely on their phones or email to communicate with coworkers, which means that it may take several hours before they receive any input. Team performance relies heavily on communication, and many remote workers have found it incredibly difficult to stay connected with their peers. Although there are productivity tools that can streamline this process, their use has to be coordinated.
Con: Remote Workers Can Have a Difficult Time Staying Motivated
Just as some remote workers thrive in a home office setting, others need to be physically present at the workplace in order to stay on task. Many employees score high on their self-motivation skills and have no problem working on a project until it is fully completed.
However, other workers need to be physically present in an environment where their peers can keep them on task and help them practice their time management skills. Whether or not an individual worker is intrinsically or extrinsically motivated should be kept in mind when deciding whether to continue allowing workers the option of working remotely.
Con: It Can Be Difficult for Remote Workers to Troubleshoot on Their Own
Most people have dealt with how frustrating workplace technology can be, especially when it malfunctions or breaks. Fortunately, workplaces usually employ a number of specialists who can address such issues in a quick, timely manner with the simple submission of a troubleshoot ticket. It is more difficult to address these issues when working at home.
While an employee may be able to have an office's technology department fix some problems remotely, they often have to be physically present to adequately address the issues at hand. This is particularly problematic if an office employs a large number of remote workers.
Deciding on the best course of action for one's business should not be done hastily. By carefully reviewing these positive and negative points of working remotely, one will be in a better position to decide what the next best course of action should be.
The Best of Both Worlds: Hybrid Work
Increasingly, leaders are moving towards a hybrid model. Decisions about in-person and remote needs are made on a case-by-case basis, whether that means by the project, by the individual, or by the team. This empowers leaders with the flexibility to recruit the best talent regardless of distance and keep morale high.
