The new normal at work

Last week I had an insightful conversation with my uber driver who was a refugee from Ethiopia. We talked about the opportunities he had seized upon since coming to NZ by getting an education and entering into a new career for himself and his family. 

We discussed the similarities and differences between the two countries from the environment to politics and everything in between.  During the course of our conversation, he spoke about his main job in IT and how the company he worked for was trying to get everyone back into the office and how as an employee he didn’t see the benefits of returning to working from the office. 

It is a conversation we know so well as clients reach out to ask for advice or the best approach in trying to get back to “normal”. 

In early 2020, Covid leapfrogged us into a new way of working. As we transition out of lockdown life, businesses owners and managers are asking themselves, what is our new normal? 

Some global firms (think Shopify, Slack, Twitter) have created a fully remote workforce while others (Microsoft, Apple) have taken a hybrid approach with some days spent in the office and others working remotely.

But what’s right for your business? 

We’ve developed a list of pros and cons to help clarify the best option to suit your culture, business objectives and customers.

The pros and cons of a fully remote vs hybrid workforce:

Fully remote workforce

1. Cost savings for your business: Your business will save on operating costs such as rent and supplies. No more coffee beans to order!

2. Cost savings for your people: They’ll spend less on travel costs and work wardrobes.

3. Tap into a wider network of talent: You’ll be able to recruit talent from anywhere in the country (or across the globe).

4. Reduced sick days: You’ll see a reduction in unscheduled absences (caring for a sick child, dentist appointment etc).

5. A more productive workforce: Your people will have more quality time with their family or for themselves, resulting in a more productive workforce. (Let’s face it, does anyone enjoy their commute?)

6. Positive environmental impact: Working from home allows your business to make a positive impact on our planet by reducing the number of cars on the road.

Hybrid workforce

1. Creating connections: The freedom to work remotely and in the office allows your people to connect with their colleagues in the office and work autonomously from home. Creating connections can help with your team’s wellbeing, and particularly benefits those of us who get energy from interacting with others.

2. Reduced operating costs: You can continue to grow your workforce without needing more office space.

3. Time saving meetings: Remember when everyone would wander into the meeting room, put their things down, leave to make a cup of coffee chatting along the way and the meeting wouldn’t begin until 10 minutes later? Working remotely has changed this behaviour. Virtual meetings start on time - if you log in late, you may miss the important bits. Imagine all the productivity time saved …

4. Reduced costs for your people (both in time and money): Working from home allows your team to be home for family dinner … or they could spend the money they’d otherwise spend on their commute shouting a dinner out.

5. Learning opportunities: This is especially important for new graduates who need to observe their colleagues to learn and grow. There are some tasks that are learnt better face to face.

6. Kinder on the planet: – Our planet will still enjoy the benefits of a hybrid workforce with less cars on the road.

Whatever choice you make for your business, your culture will need time to adjust. A  vibrant company culture is vital for a productive workforce. 

We can help you to create the ideal workplace conditions for your team. If you’d like to create a new future-thinking culture for your business, get in touch with us. We love thinking outside the square to help businesses – and teams - succeed.