Remote Working vs Hybrid Working

As we’ve highlighted in other articles, the COVID-19 Pandemic and subsequent lockdowns fast-tracked the need for remote working, as many offices around the world had to close to keep their employees safe from the virus.

Fast forward a couple of years, and many offices are still yet to return to office life. Organisations have decided to let their employees work in the environment that suits them best, with many choosing to keep working from home.

In this article, we explore a few of the different remote working options and discuss the pros and cons of remote work and hybrid working.

Read more: Advice on working from home.

Pros and cons of remote working

Pros of remote working

A better work-life balance – A reduction in the time spent commuting and saving on travel fees.

An improved employee experience – Employee morale and well-being increase, and there is the desire to succeed at work.

A decrease in infrastructure costs – Something many organisations noticed early in the first lockdown was that there were savings to be made from staff working at home, including office rent, utility bills, insurance, and more!

An increase in overall productivity – With the early morning commute gone, employees are ready to work feeling refreshed and driven to succeed. Another thing that helps is the ability to focus more because of a lack of office distractions (such as colleagues coming over to their desks or multiple smoking and coffee breaks).  

You can hire and retain top talent – The ability to work remotely appeals to many job seekers today. The ability to work remotely is no longer a perk but a necessity. Candidates of all calibres are open to job roles that offer remote working and as such, you can select your desired candidate from a larger pool of applicants, ensuring you are presented with the ideal candidate for your role.

More freedom – Time to run errands, take a nap, get chores completed, pick children up from school, and more are all benefits of flexible working. You’re still working the same number of hours; you just may be spreading those hours differently around your other obligations.

Cons of remote working

• No face-to-face contact and a lack of physical interaction.
• Limited access to information, systems, and products.
• Less collaborative work between employees.
• Isolation, loneliness, and the potential for mental health issues.

Pros and cons of hybrid working

Pros of hybrid working

• Many of the pros and cons noticed from remote working are also prevalent in the hybrid model.
• Emphasis on productivity, not efficiency.
• Reduced cost of operation.
• Redefining collaboration.
• Employee prioritisation.

Cons of hybrid working

• Difficulty maintaining productive routines.
• Diminished client experience.
• Increased employee isolation.
• Heightened cyber risks.

Discover the top 10 benefits of working from home.

What work environment would be best for you?

Finding the work environment best for you is important, as you can produce your best work and feel the most comfortable in the environment that works well for you. That said, we understand that not everyone can work where or how they like.

We explore some of the work environments available to you and highlight some of the key characteristics and benefits.

Onsite

• Employees working onsite benefit from working closely with team members and other staff directly.
• Employees will spend time and money travelling to offices regularly.
• Organisations with an onsite work model often face difficulty recruiting candidates from other regions.
• There is a greater employee density in offices, often increasing overhead costs.
• Onsite setup requires IT Managers to oversee the setup, installation, and management of both hardware and software.

Remote Work

• Since all employees operate remotely, organisations require a uniform collaboration and a proper communication system.
• Remotely working reduces the time and cost of daily commutes.
• Organisations can hire from outside the usual buffer zones and are unrestricted by location.
• Organisations transitioning to a remote model can reduce many overheads, including parking and transportation fees.

Hybrid working

• Employees can use their time in the office for important meetings and catching up with senior partners, and being involved in team-building exercises but can also enjoy the benefits of working remotely on other days.
• In a hybrid workplace, employees are only required to commute during onsite working days.
• Offering a hybrid workplace opens the employee recruitment pool.
• Organisations also see a financial benefit from office expenses, such as rent, stationery, and furniture.

You may get to the point where you want to work towards a promotion at work or are ready to leave where you currently work and look for a career change. If you are ready to make a change but are unsure what you want to study next, we can help! Explore our range of training courses, or contact us today to discuss your options.