When the pandemic first struck Google and its CEO Sundar Pichai were at the forefront of the working from home movement; allowing its employees to work from home until July 2021. However this month Google announced their plans to get their staff back into the office ahead of time where possible.
The End For Remote Working?
Google’s office structure has long been something other companies have tried to emulate and there is no denying that their offices are truly unique spaces. When the pandemic struck many companies were quick to allow staff to work remotely or from home; with large industry giants like Google and Twitter leading the way. Some companies chose to take this one step further for example, e-commerce platform Shopify announced they are a ‘digital by default company’ with most staff transitioning to permanently working remotely by the end of 2021. So with large companies like Google encouraging staff back into the office will this be the end of working remotely?
Remote Working and Office Flexibility
There is a common misconception that remote working means not working in an office but this is not always the case. There are several advantages to working remotely for employees and employers alike.
9 Advantages of remote working for employees:
- More flexibility in location
- Better work life balance
- No (or reduced) commute
- More Environmentally friendly
- Reduced living expenses
- No geographical location restrictions
- Less physical limitations
- More flexible and customisable work environment
- More privacy
9 Advantages of remote working for employers:
- Lower business expenses
- Access to a wider talent pool
- Better staff satisfaction and retention
- Reduced carbon footprint
- Better employee mental health
- Less potential employee downtime
- Improved productivity and engagement
- More flexibility around what days and hours employees are willing to work
- More profitability
What many companies don't realise is that working remotely and working from home are very different. Working remotely allows employers and employees all of the benefits listed above while also helping to counter any potential drawbacks. It is important to note that some of the advantages given above can also be perceived as disadvantages. For example, some staff may miss the opportunity to brainstorm and the social side of being in an office which can in turn impact not only on their personal mental health but may also impact negatively on their work.
Remote Working and Mental Health
It is important to differentiate between working from home and remote working, especially when it comes to employee mental health. When working from home employees can be left feeling isolated (for example, if they live alone) or more stressed (because adding children and partners to the mix is not always a great idea). With that said working from home may also help reduce stress felt by employees by allowing more flexibility in work hours alongside increased privacy for personal situations. In contrast remote working offers the benefits of working from home while countering any potential issues felt by employees. As an employer, you have a duty to your employees to support and help maintain good mental health; but at the end of the day you still need to find that balance between supporting your staff and protecting and growing your business. As a result facilitating remote working is a great compromise for everyone involved.
Sharing An Office and Remote Working
Coworking and shared office spaces have revolutionised how we work, especially for those who work remotely. These spaces are mutually beneficial allowing:
- Better opportunities for networking
- Access to a wider potential talent pool, outsourcing and freelancing opportunities
- The ability to share resources
- The ability to reduce business expenses and overheads
- The reduction in your personal and businesses carbon footprint
As a result, sharing an office space simply makes sense.
Hybrid Offices - The New Normal
So as we move out of lockdown and companies begin to look forward to the future again there are a few questions they must ask themselves:
- How many staff might want to continue working from home or remotely?
- Are you willing to allow staff to work from home or remotely
- If you are willing to allow staff to work from home or remotely what conditions or procedures do you want to put in place?
- Is your business structure able to support staff working remotely long term, if not is this something you would be willing to address?
For many companies this recent period of lockdown has opened their eyes to the feasibility of having employees working from home on a large scale. As most companies have found, working from home is not only feasible it comes with a range of benefits for all parties involved. However there are also clear disadvantages in this style of working. This is why many companies are looking to move forward using a ‘hybrid’ office philosophy. A hybrid office allows for employees to have the best of both worlds. Typically a hybrid office arrangement has employees splitting their time between a more traditional office structure and a more flexible coworking space or home office. Hybrid offices come in a wide range of formats but the basic premise and benefits are the same.
So whether you are an employee who needs less distractions, has to travel with work or seeking more social interaction and networking opportunities, sharing office space or ‘hybrid’ working is for you. If you are an employer who is concerned about staff mental health and productivity, while streamlining your businesses overheads and expenses, sharing your office with others or encouraging remote working staff to access coworking spaces can revolutionise how you do business.
