Why SmileDirectClub is going flexible and remote for good.

SmileDirectClub just announced the organization is embracing flexible and remote work, even when the pandemic ends.

Aside from retail, manufacturing, and a few operational roles at our headquarters, all Team Members will have the opportunity to work remotely, in person, or a combination of the two as they choose.

We will retain our presence in downtown Nashville and will offer a highly collaborative workplace for those who like that environment and for team sessions. We also respect each individual’s need and fully support telework for those roles where it is possible.

Our telehealth company was built on the belief that virtual connections are as effective as those in person. We are carrying this concept through to our workplace to provide our Teams the ability to work and live in a way that allows them to be the most productive.

In surveys, our Team Members have told us they like their newfound flexibility and want to maintain some degree of it even when it’s safe to return to the office. Their input combined with their output has given our leadership team the confidence in our new model.

Flexible and Remote Work Is Good for Business

We have spent the last year proving that our business and our Team are agile and resilient while working remote.

• In March 2020, we pivoted practically overnight from a majority of our customers getting started in our SmileShops to the safety and comfort of their own homes with our doctor-prescribed impression kits.
• We harnessed the power of our 3D printers – one of the largest fleets in the country – to produce PPE when healthcare workers faced shortages.
•  We have continued international expansion, growing our global footprint in markets like Singapore, Austria, Spain, the Netherlands, and Mexico.
• We established our professional channel – the Partner Network – and quickly grew it to 1,000+ affiliated practices.
• We have launched an offering just for teens, our first brand campaign, our second-generation manufacturing technology, new oral care products, among many other initiatives.

It’s clear, the SmileDirectClub Team can be as – or more – productive and efficient working remotely as in person.

We’re Encouraging a Better Balance

SmileDirectClub has recognized that working from home has presented its own set of challenges. The pandemic blurred the lines between work and home. As a mom of 3, I craved a better work-life balance like many of our Team Members. 

Last summer, we established Guidelines for Creating Space to help our Team Members better carve out time for themselves and restore energy. Here’s what it includes:

• Blocked calendars on Fridays after 2 p.m. CT so Team Members can complete the work that will transform and move the business forward.
• No meetings over the lunch hour so our Team Members can eat, go on a walk, workout, or run errands – whatever they need.
• Email expectations of “No Response Weekends” and 24-hours to respond during the work week.  
• Adhering to “Vacations Mean Vacation” to protect Team Members’ well-deserved time-off to recharge.

We’re continuing to measure how our Team Members feel about their work-life balance with this initiative and our embrace of flexible and remote work. I, personally, have noticed my inbox is quieter on weekends and I’ve been able to preserve my sacred family dinner time during the week to spend quality time with my kids.

The Unexpected Benefits of Embracing Remote Work

I’m optimistic that embracing this new way of work will have benefits beyond what we have imagined. For example, researchers are finding remote work can boost inclusion, diversity and belonging in the workplace.

Recent research from economists at the Harvard Business School and University of California, Berkeley, found that social interactions at the office contribute to the gender pay gap, and more remote work may actually go a long way to level the playing field for women in the workplace. Additionally, an article by McKinsey & Co. suggests that organizations that are intentional about how they inform and engage their remote Team Members may actually increase connection even more so than in-person.

Like many of our 4,000+ Team Members, I’m looking forward to this new chapter as SmileDirectClub joins other progressive companies at the forefront of the flexible and remote future of work. Not just for the sake of my family dinner time, but for what it will do for our business as well.

There has never been a better time to join SDC! We have the right strategy, a fulfilling mission and a flexible approach to our jobs. Check out our openings.