Work from Anywhere (WFX Series)

The global coronavirus pandemic shifted the way people work — and it appears many of the changes will be permanent. With Pandora’s box opened and the technology available to work from anywhere, it seems the days of showing up at the office from 9 to 5, five days a week, are gone.

But what will work look like in a post-pandemic world? I’m putting together a series of articles that seek to explore the changes we’ve already experienced and what lies ahead. This first one intends to explore the pros and cons of working from home versus working from a physical office. Stay tuned for the next ones, which will look at these other aspects:

• Recreating an office atmosphere virtually
• Local versus global hiring when geography is no longer an issue to attract talent
• Video versus audio collaboration
• Software-as-a-service vs. the importance of hardware upgrades for digital collaboration in a virtual or hybrid workplace

Part 1 — Work From Anywhere or From the Office?

Employees Want Remote Work

When the pandemic struck, many offices closed and required employees to work from home to keep everyone safe and healthy. This meant making sure the company and its employees had the right infrastructure and equipment, including high-speed, secure WiFi and possibly a virtual private network (VPN) to access the company network securely.

With this infrastructure in place, many employees see no reason now to return to the office. In a poll of U.S.-based remote workers, 34% said they would rather quit their job than go back to the office full time. In the?survey conducted by global staffing firm Robert Half, 49%?said they would prefer a hybrid arrangement where they split time between the office and another location, such as their home. That left a very small percentage eager to return to the office full-time.

In a separate survey, 64% of employees in the U.S. said they’d forego an annual raise of $30,000 in order to continue working remotely.

However, just because many employees say they prefer work-from-home or hybrid work arrangements doesn’t mean they are the best option — for employees or the companies. Remote work brings a myriad of challenges to businesses, managers, and employees alike.

Only by exploring the pros and cons from both angles can one determine the best decision for the company and its workers.

Pros of Working from Home for Employees

Most of the benefits to working remotely come down to savings of time and money, mainly from the lack of commute, and personal aspects like commodity (no need to dress in business attire every day) and family time — being able to drop off and pick up the kids from school and spending more time with them in person.

Employees also have the flexibility to eat lunch at home, which saves money and may also give workers better control over their nutrition. Those watching their sugar intake or those with dietary restrictions no longer have to battle the temptation of catered lunches they might feel compelled to join as part of the team.

There is also the option to tailor the working hours — to some extent — to more convenient times. Although most companies require employees to adhere to a regular work schedule, it’s easier to slip out to pick your kids up from school, or run a quick errand if you’re working from home.

Finally, there’s the increase in productivity for remote workers that affects employees and businesses alike. Studies show that people who work from home are 47% more productive. Fewer interruptions, better focus, and more autonomy can help employees be more successful.

Cons of Working from Home for Employees

However, working from home can have its drawbacks. Many young professionals worry that they are missing out on networking opportunities within the workplace and may not have as many chances for advancement as their counterparts in the office.

Plus, there’s the human interaction that many people miss. Of 6,000 white-collar workers ages 21-30 across Europe, 60% said they miss their coworkers. Thirty percent said they felt they were more productive working from home but worried that they might miss out on training and career advancement opportunities they would experience in the office.

Pros for Employers with a Work from Anywhere Workforce

As with employees, the biggest benefit to companies when shifting to a work-from-anywhere business model is the cost savings. You can save money on rent, electricity, water, and other operational costs. Companies that adopt a permanent work from anywhere business model can downsize or eliminate their office space, and save money on their lease as well.

Businesses will also save money on in-office perks and benefits that were such a big part of recruiting and retention last decade. If everyone works remotely, companies can dramatically reduce perks such as catered lunches, in-office massages, Friday happy hours, or employee game rooms. It’s likely that employees would prefer the money to be spent on better benefits, such as life insurance or a matching funds retirement account, anyway.

On the topic of cost-savings, the potential to access a remote workforce that’s located anywhere in the world can lead to recruiting better talent at lower salaries. The concept of rural sourcing or hiring employees from remote locations with a lower cost of living is not new, but saw an acceleration during the pandemic as remote work became more common, as it gives companies a virtually endless labor pool to draw from.

In many ways, it might seem that a workforce that can work from anywhere is an ideal situation. But there are some challenges.

Cons for Companies with a Work from Anywhere Team

The lack of in-person support can make it hard for companies to motivate employees and reward high performance. Smart businesses will look for ways to motivate these employees while holding them accountable. Remote work, by itself, can act as a benefit for those employees responsible enough to manage themselves.

Of course, the final challenge remains in providing employees with the technology to do their jobs well and to maintain connections through video conferencing and chat. The right collaboration software makes all the difference in creating a connected team that can work seamlessly from anywhere.

The future workplace may shift to a hybrid environment where employees come in to experience that social connection and camaraderie that contributes to a positive culture but remain at home — or in a location of their choice — for deep focus work.

Employers willing to adapt to let employees work where they feel they can be most productive could see cost savings and increased profitability — as long as they are willing to address the challenges inherent in managing a remote workforce.