Tag: work from home (Page 1 of 3)

Navigating the new reality of hybrid work

April 8, 2023 / Staff

Expectations have changed. Following the pandemic, many workers, particularly knowledge workers, professionals, and many workers doing support functions, realized that they can do their jobs at home. Bosses noticed as well, as productivity didn’t decrease for many workers.

Yes, many employers are calling back their employees. There is an advantage to having team members together in an office. Certain problems get identified and solved quickly. Team members establish bonds. Colleagues can get feedback with a simple look and body language as work gets done.

But there are also massive advantages to having the flexibility to work from home. Less commuting time gives employees more time to be productive, or simply rest or take care of life’s daily obligations. It’s easier in so many ways. Americans are now having more babies! That’s just one example of how quality of life can improve with flexibility.

The Hybrid Model

Of course, more of us realize that in office work and work from home are not binary choices. The hybrid model can give us the best of both worlds, if implemented properly.

Many prospective employees now expect this when applying for a job. Employers make sure to note that hybrid work is an option.

There are issues of course around implementation. How does this apply to different jobs and departments. Employees need to understand the policies and most need to perceive the policies as being fair. Employers should not make the mistake of thinking that everyone should be treated in exactly the same way. For some employees, work from home on most days can make sense. For others, it’s necessary to have a predominantly in office policy. Just have rational policies on how to differentiate between workers and roles.

Your Business, Your Career, Your Team, Your Workplace

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Cities and towns attract remote workers with incentives

July 18, 2022 / Staff

The remote work trend that was turbocharged by the pandemic is now getting a boost from programs offering incentives to remote workers to move into less expensive cities and towns. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal explains that 71 cities and towns are offering incentives for workers to move there. These incentives often involve cash payments to the workers. Indianapolis-based MakeMyMove is contracted by cities and towns to set up these programs.

These programs make a lot of sense. Remote workers no longer have to locate in areas with a high cost of living. They can move anywhere. Meanwhile, these workers are very attractive to smaller cities and towns, adding to the tax base and purchasing power of the population, without adding congestion to local traffic. Paying incentives is a great way to make a particular city or town more attractive to a worker considering a move.

Expect this trend to continue barring a significant economic downturn.

Your Career, Your Team, Your Workplace

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Facebook expands its work-from-home policy

June 11, 2021 / Staff

Facebook is expanding its work-from-home policy to most employees, other than jobs like hardware maintenance that require on-site work. The company will also begin allowing employees to request remote work across international borders.

Facebook will have some form of hybrid work as well:

Zuckerberg said employees who want to work in an office will be asked to come in at least half the time. This is to ensure that the office remains vibrant and that employees who do come into the office make the most of being a part of that community.
Additionally, he said Facebook plans to organize regular in-person gathers for office and remote workers “to support the relationship-building.”

This is a smart move as Facebook is in a heated battle for content, and frankly expectations are changing.

Your Business, Your Workplace

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Google will try “hybrid” workplace models

September 23, 2020 / Staff

Google is finding that many employees want to return to the office, but not necessarily on a full-time basis. Many would prefer the option to work from home and then come into the office when needed and for meetings and events.

This hybrid model may become more common, and certainly provides flexibility that will be sought by many employees.

It also raises challenges of course. Companies like Google need to consider of some employees can be mostly virtual so that they don’t have to live in hyper-expensive cities like San Francisco.

But flexibility is a good thing if managed correctly. So get ready to hear of more “hybrid” workplace solutions.

Your Business, Your Team, Your Workplace

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Some post-pandemic workplaces will be a “hybrid model”

May 13, 2020 / Staff

How soon will workplaces return to normal? In many cases, will there be a new normal?

Not surprisingly, the answers will vary sector-to-sector and business-to-business.

Cisco Systems CEO Chuck Robbins said the following: “I think you’ll see many employees that will continue to work from home, you’ll have many that will get back to the office and then you’ll have some that’ll do a little bit of both.”

Companies that navigate this successfully will have a huge advantage over companies who don’t adapt, and this can lead to greater productivity and also reduce overhead costs such as expensive office space in the future.