The pandemic proved that a little job flexibility is more than manageable. When organizations trust high-quality workers to do their jobs, they’ll get the work done. Better yet, remote appears to foster a greater sense of productivity, balance, and loyalty in companies, as reported by Owl Labs.
In spite of that, we’ve seen a growing list of companies scaling back remote work arrangements and requiring people to return to the office. The good news is the transition isn’t total. According to Gallup research, over half of U.S. work situations are hybrid, up from about one-third in 2019. So, if you’re an office worker who wants change or a remote worker who doesn’t want to fully return to the office, it might be time you consider a hybrid work arrangement. Here’s what you need to consider when you’re thinking about hybrid or remote work.
What Are the Shortcomings of Pure Remote Work
There are some tradeoffs to 100% remote work. Yes, remote work offers work flexibility and the potential for productivity without interruptions, but there are some shortcomings which can cascade quickly.
Reduced Compensation
Lower pay is one of the biggest disadvantages of fully remote work. A recent survey found that remote workers make about $22,000 less than their peers. For some people, getting rid of the commute, coffee shop visits, and other expenses are worth the salary cut, but it’s worth considering before making the choice.
Less Communication
Clearly communicating as a fully remote worker is less intuitive than you might imagine. Collaboration platforms like Teams or Slack make it easy to send out a quick message or respond to a question but can lack the nonverbal context of in-person communication. Though video calls can fill in some of the gaps, they can sometimes feel more transactional than face-to-face meetings.
Limited Collaboration
On top of that, purely remote work can result in communication siloes, where you only talk to people with explicit value to your ongoing projects. Spontaneous collaboration or idea sharing from unplanned workplace conversations disappear. For that reason, you’ll need to take the initiative to schedule time to replace the lost watercooler chat, learning about the passions and ongoing projects of your peers that you can’t achieve in rigid status updates.
Slowed Career Progress
There can be limitations to your career development. Some studies are showing that remote workers, when going up against hybrid or in-office peers, are more likely to lose out on promotions. You’ll likely need to switch jobs more often to achieve the growth you want.
Blurred Work-Life Balance
Without the structure of an office, it’s much easier for professionals to lose some division between their work and home lives. The flipside of greater flexibility is people can feel the pressure to work and have an even harder time unplugging from work. If unaddressed, this can hasten feelings of burnout or distract from the important life events.
Some of the Benefits of Hybrid Work
Choosing hybrid work can help to blend the benefits for workers. You can use the remote time in your schedule to tackle more complicated or involved projects or tasks that require focus and dedication. When you need fresh perspectives or strong team bonds, you can make your trip into the physical office. Best of all, you can typically avoid that $22,000 salary cut and increase your promotion prospects.
The trick is finding the right hybrid arrangement for you. Does two days in the office, three out-of-office work? What about three days onsite, two offsite? Or are you hoping to limit your in-house trips to once a week? The answer depends on your own personal and professional needs.
For example, some people benefit from greater flexibility to take longer breaks and work outside of the typical 9-to-5, which is easier to achieve if you have more time outside of the office. If you limit office visits to once or twice a week, you can reshuffle tasks and maximize interpersonal interactions on those days.
If you’re looking to make lateral shifts or vertical growth, you’ll likely need to get more face time in the office, building stronger bonds with direct superiors and team members. You’ll still have time to focus on more complex tasks if you choose a job with a company that’s willing to create the right workspace for you.
In these instances, it can help to have an experienced recruiter on your side. For example, w3r’s recruiters use knowledge of client companies to determine which opportunities best fit your desired work arrangement and working conditions. Plus, by building a meaningful relationship with you, our recruiters can guide you towards a work arrangement that might not have even been on your radar, whether they’re hybrid or remote.
Choosing hybrid or remote roles shouldn’t be the only factor. Look at our open jobs to find jobs with challenges, growth opportunities, and benefits that meet and exceed your needs.
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