the past For two and a half years, remote and hybrid work has become the norm — a majority of working Americans the opportunity to work from home all or part of the week, and 87% of employees who were offered remote work jumped at the opportunity.
While some companies are pushing for a return to the office, today’s tight job market gives workers more power to push back for remote or at least flexible jobs. This isn’t just a pandemic response anymore – it’s a way of life and it has the potential to make some businesses better. People who work from home report an increase in their productivity levels without the distractions that come with an office – Oh, it’s Beth’s birthday. Cookies in the kitchen!
But both employers and employees have reported some drawbacks of remote working. Isolation can make people feel lonely and disconnected, leading to psychological problems. Learning and collaboration have taken a hit without the human element of being in the same room. And it can be difficult to create and maintain a corporate culture remotely.
Fortunately, some seriously smart people have put a lot of thought into how to tackle these challenges and make them work. We put a few on stage at londonbusinessblog.com Disrupt last week, and while you still can watch the whole videohere are some of their best insights.
Be hyper-intentional when you get together IRL
Two and a half years after the pandemic, people are “actually screaming to spend more time together,” Adriana Roche, chief people officer at Mural, said during a panel discussion at Disrupt.
Ironically, one of the key solutions to the problems of remote working is finding ways to bring staff together IRL. That could mean being in the office a few times a week if everyone lives in the same city, but if the team is completely remote, companies need to be more mindful of their monthly or quarterly off-sites.