Over the past three years, the pandemic has entirely reshaped the way we work, and for quite a while, the home office was the place to be. However, while remote workforces have become more common than ever, 2022 has seen a surge in employees returning to the office – either part-time or full-time.
As we leave 2022 behind and make and bravely step into 2023, I chatted with DTEN's Head of EMEA, Doug Remington, to help summarize return-to-the-office trends from the past year, and try to settle the great debate: Office or Remote?
What We've Seen
Before we dive into any pros and cons, let's do a quick recap.
In 2022, we saw companies across all sectors experimenting with hybrid work, trying to figure out the specific blend that works well for them and their employees.
"Businesses were struggling to determine the right hybrid strategy that fits their organisation and for specific teams in terms of office-to-remote ratio," Remington notes.
"That extended to their choice of a business communication platform as well, with some organisations deciding to go for one single, defined platform such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams, and others being more flexible, allowing a mix of more than one platform."
Businesses also had to deal with the challenge of physically adapting their office spaces to hybrid work.
"Many questions arising this past year were concerned with the optimal way to build and design hybrid meeting rooms as opposed to what was previously used, and how to leverage technology to deliver meeting equity for both remote and in-office participants," Remington explains.
Back to the Office?
Well, if balancing a hybrid work environment is so challenging, perhaps we should all just go back to the office altogether?
If only it were that simple. While the office environment has its share of advantages, returning to a full-time office presence at this point would be problematic for various reasons.
"The two primary downsides for employees when it comes to the office are time and cost," Remington explains.
"The majority of employees want the option for flexibility when it comes to where they work. They don't want to spend 10 to 15 hours a week commuting, and they don’t like the travel costs it incurs."
"Also, many have become used to being closer to their families, friends, and pets at home. A full return to the office can negatively impact work-life balance. This all ties into employee wellbeing and mental health, which should be a high priority to all organsations who value their people," he adds.
Remote It is, then?
One thing's for sure: it would be a crying shame to waste such a catchy slogan as 'Vote Remote.' But, is going full-on remote really the best choice?
