Working From the Office vs. Working From Home — The Struggle is Real!

The pandemic threw the entire world into turmoil. Nearly 47 million people?in the UK suddenly began doing some work remotely — and that’s in addition to the workers who were already working from home. Even before COVID-19 hit, the number of remote workers was already on the rise. The pandemic only accelerated a rethink of the way companies structure their workforces.?

While remote work has long been a part of the workforce formula, the recent shift was not something that businesses planned for or expected. It was born out of necessity and the tenacity to roll with the punches no matter what came next, but it was never going to be the norm. Most businesses did not envision that remote work would become a permanent solution or even that employees would come to demand it.?

Does Working Remotely Work for Companies??

During the pandemic, there really wasn’t a choice, particularly for those businesses that were considered “nonessential.” They made a decision, and that was to stay in business with a dramatically altered workforce. Of course, that was then, and this is now.

In many cases, cloud-based management tools, interactive software, and messaging tools have kept everyone in a collaborative mindset. Whether a business continues to go down this road depends not only on its needs but also on the skills and reliability of its remote workers.?

Can companies trust remote workers to?get the job done with the appropriate?discipline,?self-awareness, and time management skills? It’s a real question. While they’ve been working at home, employees have had the freedom to work where and when they want to. They never had the secret fear that the boss might walk by their desk and see them playing solitaire on company time (NOT that they would!)?

Why Do Businesses Generally?Dislike Remote Work??[& Why Didn’t We All Fall In Love With Working From Home?]

Part of the reason for the mad scramble for some businesses in forcing employees to return to work is because there’s still a perception that employees will do more when they are sitting in the office. They will dedicate themselves to the?company,?and they will contribute more to business growth and development. In the office, kids, pets, and household matters are not?distractions.

In theory, working from home is the dream, but having this forced upon us for the best part of two years we can see that it was not all that it was cracked up to be. Even in companies that have a culture predicated on openness and flexibility, a lot of us found that we prefer that one-on-one connection you get from being around the people we work with. Daily video calls, emails, and texts just do not compare to stopping by a colleagues desk and checking in. Collaboration is easier in person, the social ‘water cooler’ moments are back, and being able to leave work at work has all been missed. In the office, it feels like a community.?

Why Are Company Policies Important??

It may not have helped we went from in office working to working from home literally overnight, many companies were not equipped to support that change, like not having adequate policies in place related to remote work at the beginning of the pandemic. Having an agreed structure and clear policies in place can help both the employer and employee manage the home working fairly, and effectively.?I think it's fair to say we have learnt a lot about what works and what really doesn’t (homeschooling on top of?working the ‘9-5’).

The problem is that many small companies (about 75%) do not have even the most basic of employee handbooks or policy guides to point to. Under normal, in-office operations, that might be an issue, but at least employees could go into the employer’s office to ask questions and clarify policy concerns. Millions of workers were working remotely without even the most basic guidance on policies or procedures.?

So, Where Does Business Go?From?Here??

The past is the past, and businesses can’t very well jump in a time machine and start over. So what are the lessons we have learnt from the mandatory social experiment called 2020? Some businesses are mandating their workforce migrate back to the office, and if that’s the case, they should make that policy crystal clear to employees and move on As with any new rule, its worth planning for any potential fall out from employees looking for a new normal. For others, there’s greater flexibility, with possible?options for a hybrid model or a fully remote model depending on an employee's preference and position in the business.?

The struggle?is?real, but there is a middle ground to be found between companies and employees.?It's not about right or wrong. It's about finding a way to achieve a work-life balance while meeting company needs both now and in the future. Workers will either stay or go. For the health and continuity of the business, employers must consider the policies and procedures that will be fair and?equitable for all.?But?there is also room for compromise.?

How Can Businesses and Employees Work Together to Create a Better Workplace?

It’s possible that businesses and employees alike have forgotten that it’s a two-way street.?

• Review the cost of rewards and the actual benefits offered to those working from home. They are probably now out of date.
• Consistently measure engagement both with those working from home and those working from the office. Check what is working for your employees, not just your line managers.
• For a hybrid model, use days in the office to refine your collaboration and better build relationships with your employees.
• Take a fresh approach as you review all your policies and procedures. Determine where workflow changes need to be addressed with new policies.
• Ensure that all employees and managers are taking their annual leave.

Working from home is stressful and demanding, without easy options for switching "off." Make rest and renewal an important focal point of your policies, since it's now more important than ever before.

Nobody ever said that developing policies, building an employee handbook, or even reconnecting with a workforce would be easy or without frustration. With policies that foster flexibility and allow for growth, businesses may find that they have a more dedicated and engaged workforce than ever before. This can (or should be) just the beginning.?

It’s now or never — decide what the company’s office versus work-at-home policies will be. Then move forward.?

At The Small HR Company, we're here to help you every step of the way, no matter what your decision might be.