At the height of the pandemic, many employees found themselves working 100 percent remotely from the comfort of their homes. For the sake of health and safety, the work-from-home model was a tactic adopted by many companies to ensure workers were still comfortable completing necessary work tasks day-to-day.
Now that the pandemic has ended, many companies are transitioning back to in-office work, meaning that we may start to see the amount of 100 percent work-from-home positions decline. Employers seem to be offering fewer of these positions, even with remote and hybrid work remaining relatively popular in the corporate world.
While some candidates may be willing to work in an office, others may desire to continue working from home for as long as possible. So, is remote work going away entirely? While some believe remote and work-from-home models may be approaching a fast end, others argue that these work styles are becoming the new normal in the professional sphere.
Though the number of fully remote positions may decrease in the coming months, this is not to say that employers will eradicate work-from-home models completely. In fact, there are many reasons remote work will likely stick around, including the following:
If the pandemic taught the corporate world anything, it’s that people are more than their job. Working from home has allowed many employees to devote more time to their families and create a better work-life balance. When companies value employee wellness above all else, employees are more likely to respond positively rather than letting a negative attitude ruin their quality of work.
While more employers may start to advocate for an in-office work setting when looking to hire, they may also be more flexible with those who prefer to work from home. Companies have learned to adjust to remote and hybrid work styles over the last few years, and many now possess a higher level of adaptability than they previously had.
By providing this flexibility to future hires, employee retention rates can remain steady and even increase over time. This gives future job candidates more incentive to want to work for your company.
While it may seem that working from home can offer a range of distractions, we’ve found that employees are more productive in the comfort of their own space. Remote work allows you to work where you want rather than sitting at a desk all day, save money and time by eating at home, and be in the presence of emotionally-supportive loved ones or pets.
Additionally, working from home has saved many employees from commuting daily to and from their jobs. Whether you commute 15 minutes or an hour, not having to drive to and from work can bring valuable time back to your day.
Besides completing work in this extra time, employees can also put it toward other areas of their life when they aren’t working, which may mean focusing on a task or hobby that helps with emotional well-being or physical health.
One of the advantages of remote work is that it allows companies to expand their talent pool when hiring for a position. Those working 100 percent remotely can easily work from a distance—even from across the country. For this reason, employers have a better shot at finding a candidate that’s perfectly qualified for a position and can still hire them even if they live somewhere completely different.
Companies that choose to remain fully remote may also see savings in their budget. Without the need for a communal office, companies will no longer need to pay for a building space and deal with the expenses that come with it, such as upkeep, furniture, office supplies, snacks, and more.
If you are an employer that still wants to leave some room in your budget for office-related materials, consider providing higher-quality technology or supplies your employees may need to complete their job duties at home effectively.
Above all else, remote work has allowed employers to better understand what their employees need, therefore giving more focus to their health and well-being. Managers can form more realistic expectations and standards for their workers when taking mental and physical health into consideration.
Additionally, workers who feel valued as people rather than just for their work will likely have a more positive outlook on their day-to-day responsibilities and the company as a whole.
While the possibility of remote work becoming less common can be discouraging for many, it’s not likely that this work style will fade out completely. Beyond maintaining the health and safety of employees during the pandemic, many other benefits have come along with working from home that companies are continuing to recognize. With this in mind, there’s no doubt that remote and hybrid job positions are here to stay.
At Spencer Reed Group, we work one-on-one with both employers and job seekers to find the perfect candidate or company for you. To learn more or get started, contact us today at 913-663-4400.
