Remote work never got so much attention. Hundreds of surveys just in the last twelve months are trying to help employers figure out how to manage, maintain, retain, and maximize their work-from-home workforce. COVID-19 overnight showed all employers, even those who swore they would never have employees anywhere but the office, that change is possible. Employers learned all about Zoom (another great thing!) and virtual happy hours. Still, employers were tasked with measuring productivity and motivation, and most recently, telling their workforce they must return to the office. Remote work, once a rare perk, became the norm overnight.
Thousands of employees have been surveyed, and here are highlighted pros and cons of multiple survey results:
Flexibility: Remote work isn’t just about working at home in your pajamas. It’s all about flexibility and a surprising uptick in productivity. A study by Stanford University found a whopping 13% increase in productivity among remote workers. They based this on a few things: less time commuting means more time for work.
Personalized Environment: Surveys also indicated workers spent time tailoring their environments to fit them and make them productive. This autonomous personalization may be a space with complete silence, the buzz of a coffee shop, or a feng shui set-up. Workers loved the fact they could personalize their work environment instead of sitting in office cubicles.
Not Going Back to Office: According to the Buffer survey, 98% of remote workers want to continue telecommuting, at least part-time, for the rest of their careers. This was a massive theme in many of the surveys, and employers who can’t offer remote work (or hybrid) will have a smaller talent pool to select from. Employers who can offer a flexible, hybrid workplace will also be seen as more progressive companies that become excellent recruiting tools for Gen Xs and Ys.
Better Collaboration: One of the largest misconceptions, according to the surveys, is that remote workers can team up if they are all remote. Many surveys indicated just the opposite! 82% of remote workers feel they have the technology to stay engaged with their coworkers and build meaningful teams.
Work-Life Balance: While many excel in their home office, others find the lines between work and personal life blurry. A survey by the National Bureau of Economic Research highlighted an increase in workday length, averaging over 45 minutes. Employers’ challenge is having clear goals for their remote workforce and a way to measure productivity.
Too Much Time at Home: Buffer’s State of Remote Work 2023 also reveals that one in three remote workers report staying home too often due to a lack of reasons to leave. Notable struggles included overworking, difficulty unplugging, and challenges setting work boundaries (McKinsey & Company).
Separating Work from Personal Life: For years in office settings, nonsmokers always knew they were getting a raw deal since smokers were allowed to take smoke breaks all day long. With remote work, surveys revealed workers are scheduling work around doctor appointments, shopping, school events, etc. In other words, workers feel that if they can get the job done, they love the flexibility of doing it on their terms. For employers, surveys indicate that those who have yet to commit to a typical workday are challenged to meet goals. It puts a lot of pressure on managers to find a happy medium. Unfortunately, many of your remote workers have a different idea of what this means.
So, what’s an employer to do? You must embrace flexibility but also figure out how to manage it. Regular check-ins and clear communication channels are vital to everyone on the same page. Invest in tools that bridge the gap. Tools like virtual whiteboards and project management software, as well as spending time training everyone and being transparent with objectives.
In the human worker business, one size does not fit all. A hybrid model might be the golden ticket, offering the best of both worlds. It’s about finding the right balance that keeps productivity high and employees happy.
Sources: McKinsey & Company , Buffer Survey, 2023, Quantum Workplace, Deloitte