Each month, we’ll tackle one of those burning questions that keeps you awake at night or causes heartburn during the day. Our team of experts will help you stay in the know. We’ll give you the information and answers you need to your questions about recruiting trends, legislation, workplace issues and more.
Remote, Flexible, and Hybrid Models – Oh My!! Which one is the best to use?
We all know that the pandemic changed how we worked. During 2020 most organizations had to rapidly pivot to a remote work environment. The other thing we had to accommodate during the lockdowns was to become more flexible as our staff juggled competing responsibilities for work and home life, including caregiving responsibilities and monitoring school children.
There is no “normal” any longer. Employers now face many issues from labor shortages, skills gaps, rising salary asks, the great resignation, quiet quitting, and more. An employer’s work model is an important part of a candidate’s decision to take a new position. More flexibility has been a major driver of the Great Resignation. Ceridian’s 2023 Pulse of Talent study confirmed this. Each model can be leveraged to attract and retain candidates. We are often asked which is best, or what do candidates prefer? The answer is, “it depends.”
Let’s define each of these models and evaluate the pros and cons for your team and organization:
Flexible Work Model:
Flexible workplaces are working environments that allow employees to control their job conditions. This system can let employees choose when, where, and how to work.
Pros:
Less costs for employees who do not have to commute
Employees are better able to focus and concentrate on their work
Employees have more freedom to arrange schedules around personal needs like errands and appointments
Cons:
It’s not for everyone – some people need the social interaction of working in person
Boundaries between work and home life can get blurred
Out of sight – out of mind where employees who are not in the office may be overlooked for assignments or growth opportunities
Hybrid Work Model: Like the flexible work model is the hybrid workplaces which also offers flexibility. This model combines working in an office and at home. It means employees work partly at your company’s office and partly at the employee's home.
Pros:
Lower costs for both employers and employees
Greater work/life balance
Employees can be more creative when they have the freedom to set the time and place where they will perform at their best
Cons
Possible burnout
Collaboration can be more difficult if everyone is not on the same schedule
Proximity bias which happens when those closer to the boss/team are perceived as better workers
Remote Work Model: Remote work, also called work from home, work from anywhere, telework, remote job, mobile work, and distance work does not require employees to be located in an office, warehouse, or other physical location.
Pros:
Commuting cost savings
Rise in productivity
Less stress from commuting, office politics, and trying to balance home and work responsibilities
Cons:
Gaps in communication
Hard to stay focused
Lack of social interaction with co-workers
These work models are complicated with many variables. Each organization is different and what works well in one organization may not meet another organization's needs. Yet it is also a very important topic to know and understand. Our team of experts is ready to assist you with understanding how to attract candidates with these work models. Contact us at info@talentremedy.com or 703-362-0175 to set up a time to speak with one of our experts.