Is Work-From-Home Here to Stay? Should You Offer Remote Capabilities?

It’s hard to believe that many businesses have been working from home for almost two years. Some experts believed that remote work would eventually become the norm in companies, but the pandemic sped up the timeline and forced it to happen early. But work-from-home could be around a lot longer than anyone expected. So should you embrace remote work to fill open positions or call your workforce back into the office in 2022? Here are some of the pros and cons of remote, in-house, or hybrid arrangements.

Remote Workers Save Money

The bottom line is always the bottom line. If your company can save money, it’s crucial to find a way to make that work. WFH employees save money in terms of your office overhead. You’re not paying rent or utility costs that come with maintaining a brick-and-mortar space. Even if you absorb some of the cost for equipment, you’re still reducing your overall spending.

Work From Home Creates Communication Challenges

On the flip side, remote employees don’t have the same natural flow of communication as in-house employees. You need to invest in tools like chat and video conferencing and make sure people are available for phone calls when required. It’s not an insurmountable problem, but some people simply work better in office environments.

Employee Morale Improves with WFH

Companies are seeing that overall employee morale is improving with work-from-home arrangements. People feel like they have more control over their time; they can walk away from their desks for a few minutes to take a break or address an issue at home. Just the elimination of a commute is enough to raise the spirits of many employees.

More Difficult to Navigate Work/Life Balance

However, some employees struggle more with balancing work and life when everything is in the same space. Not shutting down work emails or communications after work hours leads to employees spending more, not less, time on work. If you choose remote work, it’s essential to set boundaries for the team and management.

Hire From Anywhere

One massive benefit of remote work arrangements is the ability to hire anyone from anywhere. If you’re located in Texas but your ideal candidate lives in North Carolina, there is no longer a boundary preventing you from bringing them on board. There is no longer a need for expensive relocation packages. We’re now in a national job market, and it’s worth taking advantage of that.

Consider Your Options

The next step is to decide what’s right for your business. There are three options:

  • Fully remote work
  • Hybrid work
  • In-office work

Your employee would never be required to come into the office for fully remote. Hybrid models mean some employees work in the office and some work from home, which can change depending on need, employee preference, and job duties. Or you can bring your team back in-house full-time. The choice is yours, but it’s worth weighing the options and talking to your team.

Do You Need Help Hiring Remote or Hybrid Workers?

Call CornerStone Staffing today in Dallas or Phoenix for your in-office or remote workforce needs.

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