Remote Workforce: Can High-Performing Teams Exist Outside the Office?
The Covid pandemic caused a major shift in employee work environments. Before then, different working location options had been non-existent on a mass scale. Employees were expected to come into the office and work the typical hours of operation. However, once we entered 2020, things changed. Suddenly, companies had the need for a remote workforce.
Many organizations had never experimented with this set-up and scrambled to adjust to communicating with employees and clients solely in a virtual landscape. Their main question was, can employees remain productive at home vs. working on-site.
The long-standing theory that you must be present in the office to be “working” was proven to be false as a vast majority of workers found themselves working from their couch, rather than their desk, for an extended amount of time during 2020 and into 2021.
Let’s look at some of the many benefits of working remotely, as well as factors that may challenge productivity.
Pros and Cons of Remote Working
First and foremost, working remotely lowers expenses for both the employer, as well as the employee. Gone is the need for a large office space, and the associated expense that comes with it. More importantly, the expense of driving to and from the office is eliminated for the employee, which is especially beneficial in rural settings.
Another key benefit of working remotely is being able to control your work environment. Specifically, you can control distractions that may be present in your workplace. This can include anything from equipment to co-workers that may lead to lower performance levels. In terms of the necessary technology required, a secure connection is all that’s needed to create a home office in today’s ever-connected world.
Working remotely does have its challenges though. As convenient as virtual meetings are, they are still not the same as face-to-face meetings. Sometimes, it is more beneficial for a meeting to be in person.
Also, there are instances where work schedules can become too lax compared to structured, on-site locations.
Regarding technology, basic high-speed internet that may be taken for granted in urban and metropolitan areas is not always available in rural communities. This may result in employees living in those areas to miss out on the opportunity to work from home.
Most of the reasons for and against working remotely that are listed above deal with the workplace. It is important to consider the human factor when discussing remote solutions. There are times when face-to-face collaboration is necessary, especially when dealing with teams of employees working towards a common goal, and remote work is not feasible. In addition, there are some employees that require the “security” of being around their fellow co-workers, to be productive.
On the flip side of this, some employees thrive in a private, solitary environment. They are more comfortable and, in some cases, relieved of workplace stressors.
A more hybrid solution, where employees are allowed to split their time between working remotely and working from the office, may be the best solution. An example of this may be to have employees work in the office on Monday and Friday, but be allowed, depending on need, to work remotely during the middle of the week.
So, Is Remote Work Right for Your Organization?
As you can see, there is an argument to be made as to whether remote workplaces will work for your organization. All we have to do is look back a couple of years to see that it can be done. In the end, a discussion held between management and employees may be what it takes to decide if working remotely is a good fit for your organization.
Written By: Phillip Thomas, MA, SHRM-SCP
LinkedIn: Phillip Thomas
