Will We Work From Home Forever?
For the last several months, workers across the United States have participated in a massive social experiment concerning how we work. With a majority of employees leaving the office to work remotely, employee expectations and business norms have changed tremendously. While the world has not shifted to virtual offices completely, the experience gained during the pandemic makes it seem more attractive and realistic than ever before, yet there are considerations businesses must make before attempting this shift.
What the Data Tells Us
In 2012, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office allowed patent examiners to live and work where they choose; for those working remotely, productivity increased. According to Harvard business school professor Prithwiraj Choudhury, employees who chose to work remotely saw productivity rise 4.4% (HBS Study). This, coupled with the savings realized from remote work, makes virtual offices highly attractive to small businesses working to make every penny count. With commute times cut down to seconds and many employees reporting working more hours due to the comfortability of their workspace, time is maximized. Additionally, if businesses do not require a brick-and-mortar storefront, having a virtual office or shrinking real estate saves a significant amount of money. In addition to changes in productivity and spending, expectations have changed as well. Meetings have become more casual, and more individuals are recognizing that much business reaching across large geographic ranges can be effectively completed via video conferencing. Despite being separated from coworkers, there have even been great moments of levity in the workday as children or dogs interrupt Zoom meetings.
The Downside
Despite all of the positivity surrounding working from home, it does present challenges unique to the circumstances. In light of more employees working more hours, having increased productivity, and blending their work and home space, many reports that work is encroaching on their leisure time due to the increased comfort “at work.” While going the extra mile at work is often important, especially in small businesses where many employees play several roles within the company, it is also essential that employees enjoy their lives outside of work with loved ones and hobbies. While going away isn’t an option, one of our clients recently recognized that their employees were not taking vacation days over the last several months. That time away from work helps employees come back refreshed and ready to take on the next task, reminding them to take a vacation, even if it’s a staycation, was critical. Finding this balance while working from home is a new and challenging process for many.
An additional challenge facing managers and executives is deciding how to monitor employee productivity. For small businesses that retain only a small team that all reports to the same person and is in a constant conversation, this is less of a challenge. If an employee that is sharing info and messages all day is not doing so anymore, your inbox or phone takes notice. As small businesses reach a size where employees report to different managers and managers report to executives, a system of accountability becomes useful for tracking productivity. Employees and supervisors alike often feel uncomfortable with their company surveilling their internet and computer at home. This is especially prevalent for small businesses that may not be able to afford complete home office technology for every employee, and many employees use their personal technology and network. Additionally, challenges face parents with children out of school due to the pandemic or individuals we can feel isolated without the community of coworkers around them every day.
Conclusion
The shift toward remote work is exciting for some but leaves others yearning for the community and simplicity of being in a single space. With many barriers left in the way of perfecting remote work, it seems that a hybrid model is more likely in the near future where some employees work from home while others go into an office. This reduces the risk of viral transmission and offers the partial benefits of fully virtual offices (reduced real estate, increased productivity, and other savings).
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