Flexible and Remote Work Options Reveal a Bright Future

By Alexis Stiebe

This year has brought major changes to how we operate at work and conduct our personal lives. Short-term adjustments have turned into long-term, more permanent changes. The way we work has been transformed. As we get back to our new normal and find new ways to conduct “business as usual” many organizations have found that the strategies adopted to confront the pandemic have resulted in unexpected benefits.

Embracing communication tools and being forced to transition large portions of the workforce to a remote environment have revealed unexpected benefits. Employees have taken note of the best parts of their new normal and are likely to strive to make them a part of their working life as they make new career choices. Promote and develop these benefits in your workplace to attract and keep the best talent.

Remote Options Benefit Hiring

Transitioning to a remote work environment was a challenge at first. New communication strategies and technologies had to be taught to the majority of the workforce. But now, with several months of experience under our belts, remote work has become a boon for many. There are clear benefits for both employee and employer.

The ability to work from a home office with no daily commute is appealing to many. Simple creature comforts like your favorite brand of coffee and the ability to wear slippers at your desk are nice. Not spending a large portion of the day commuting by train or car is an even larger benefit. But the benefit is not only to the employee.

Employers need to take advantage of a suddenly larger talent pool. When location doesn’t matter you can hire the best from anywhere. Did you find an expert, but they live three states over and can’t relocate due to family obligations? Offering them the ability to work remotely can be the benefit that tips the scale in your favor over a competitor.

Flexible Hours

Many workplaces have taken the remote work transition a step further and experimented with more flexible working hours. School closures and remote learning has forced some of this change upon parents. With less ability to micro-manage a remote workforce, managers have had to put their trust in their employees to get the job done. Many have found that results are what matter and clock watching has little benefit. Employees have enjoyed this new freedom and employers will need to embrace this new standard or lose out on top talent in the future.

Cost Savings and Reinvestment

Moving the bulk of an organization’s workforce into a home office has resulted in empty real estate across the country. Empty offices, break rooms and conference rooms still have a large cost in rent and utilities. Maybe it is time to lose the dead weight or at least downsize to a smaller space. The dollars saved can be reinvested to create a stronger more productive workforce. Prioritize what is needed to help your employees thrive. Cloud software, increased network security and advanced collaboration technology will be a necessity. You may find you need to hire talent to fill new roles to maintain the new infrastructure.

Developing a strong, remote company culture and strategy will help your business succeed in the future by attracting the best talent. For help finding top talent for remote roles, contact the recruiting experts at Career 1 Source.