The Year of Compromise: Why Employers Should Consider Keeping Their Jobs Remote

Flexible working has been a hot topic for many years, with it becoming a huge focus during the pandemic and now even more, as everyone tries to retain their talent.

With some companies requiring their teams to return to offices, or companies switching to hybrid models or sticking with a remote workforce, one thing remains the same: employees want flexibility with where they could work, especially if they proved they could do their job during the pandemic.?

Throughout 2022 and 2023 we saw some employers have massive hiring surges and some have massive layoffs. With this particular new talent pool of candidates, some employers are seeing tons of activity towards their open roles, while others are seeing a limited number of candidates that show interest. What we can see overall is this pool of candidates is seeking flexible work options, and they will be showing interest in those industries who offer it.

The industries and employers that will win in the end? The ones that offer the flexible work structure.

Why employers should keep their job openings remote:??

• Your candidate pool immediately becomes larger when you can hire from anywhere. You do not have to hire within a 25-mile radius, but instead have a much larger talent pool that you will not see if you are only hiring for an in-office role.
• Retention of employees. It is no shocker that candidates want to have flexibility. Offering remote work is the #1 want here. If you offer flexibility, your employees will be flexible back.
• The cost of not having an office and supporting remote employees is significant. Being able to put the extra cost into different areas can help support your business in other ways.
• You open a new pool of candidates that may not have applied before such as individuals with disabilities, restrictions, or other things that could have held them back from coming into an office before.??

Why candidates want a remote or flexible working options:??

• Work-life balance.
• Giving back time into their family, friends, and hobbies.
• An overall improvement in mental health.
• Being able to travel and work from anywhere.
• Feeling trusted by their employer.
• Being unable to work onsite, but not wanting to give up their job.
• Many candidates proved they are able to do their job remote (some even better than on-site) and they don’t want that flexibility taken away.
• Realizing that priorities have shifted, and other things are just as important as their career.

In conclusion, while each organization can ultimately decide what they want to do in terms of their work structure, the statistics of employees wanting to work remotely are staggering. By giving employees the option, you are not only opening up your pool to more candidates, but you are also building retention and giving a more attractive work offering to potential employees.??