Working remotely has become the norm. We have quickly become used to not visiting the office and it is often a deal breaker for candidates even more so to remuneration.
But is it a positive thing?
Here are some of the reasons why candidates we have spoken to want to work at home.
Increased Flexibility and work-life balance: Remote employees can determine their own schedules, which can help them strike a better balance between their personal and professional lives and increase their general well-being.
Cost savings: Remote workers spend less on food and clothing linked to their jobs, as well as on transportation.
Increased Productivity: According to several studies, remote employees say they are more productive than their office-based peers because they can set up a relaxing and distraction-free working environment.
Greater access to talent: Employers with remote work options have access to a broader talent pool because they can hire people from all around the world and candidates also now have the choice to work for companies all around the world.
Travel: It’s becoming more common to see people work from different locations throughout the
year; often following the warm weather.
For companies who offer full remote work, it also can increase your talent pool and will allow you to stay on top of competitors who insist on office or hybrid work.
And for the minority of candidates we speak to who want to work from the office; here are some of their reasons.
Isolation: Remote employees may have a sense of isolation from their coworkers and the workplace, which can cause emotions of loneliness and detachment.
Collaboration issues: Working remotely can make it difficult for teams to work together and communicate clearly, which can cause delays and misunderstandings.
Difficulty disconnecting: Disconnecting may be difficult for remote workers, which can cause burnout and stress as well as a lack of sleep.
Difficulty in onboarding new employees: Might be challenging due to the possibility that they would feel alienated from the team and corporate culture due to remote work.
Ultimately, our candidate base generally wants to work remotely. The positives generally outweigh the negatives and companies are introducing collaboration and onboarding improvements, in-person company meetups, etc. are looking at ways to minimize the negative drawbacks.
For companies insisting on their employees coming to the office; they can expect higher turnover.
Will this stay, from our conversations with candidates; I think so. However, we are seeing more and more companies looking for a hybrid approach.
If you are a candidate or company thinking whether remote working is right for you or your company; feel free to reach out to Mentor Talent for more info.