One of the silver linings of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the shift to remote work—and companies’ realization that remote work hasn’t caused the sky to fall. Productivity hasn’t plummeted, but many costs associated with maintaining a physical office preference have.
Pandemic Presents Opportunity to Experiment
Writing for BBC Worklife, Bryan Lufkin notes that companies around the world are taking advantage of the opportunity to experiment with various types of hybrid work models to determine what might work best for their business, their customers, and their employees.
The approaches being taken vary widely, Lufkin writes. “Some companies remain on the fence, and when the possible downsides of hybrid work are discussed, most people generally assume pushback will come from the companies who decide it doesn’t suit their needs.”
But is it realistic to assume employees themselves have completely bought into the remote work transition? Lufkin writes that employees may also have reservations about continuing the hybrid work trend indefinitely.
Not All Employees Are Embracing Hybrid
There are a wide range of reasons employees may not necessarily love the remote experience—or want to continue it.
“Employees who often work from home could perceive a negative impact on their career, linked to a lack of interaction with colleagues and managers,” Lufkin says. “Those who want to climb the ladder could feel compelled to spend more time in the office, so they’re visible to the powers that be. Some people, meanwhile, could experience difficulties switching seamlessly between home and office work environments.”
These observations are not to say that companies should scrap their remote and hybrid work plans. On the contrary, they serve as evidence that employees are not a monolithic group for which a one-size-fits-all approach will be appropriate.
Flexibility Is the Key
The key word for employers when looking to keep their staff happy and engaged is “flexibility.” Companies that can provide flexible options to their teams are also likely to have an advantage over similarly situated competitors when it comes to recruitment and retention.
The COVID-19 pandemic has largely taught companies that they can allow employees to work remotely or in a hybrid model that combines remote and in-office work. But that doesn’t mean these employers must or should impose that model on staff universally. Instead, they should work to embrace flexibility where possible.