As the COVID-19 pandemic recedes, many companies are beginning to rethink their remote and hybrid work policies. While remote and hybrid work arrangements have been a necessary and effective solution to the challenges posed by the pandemic, some executives may be considering no longer allowing these arrangements as the pandemic comes to an end.
Reasons For New Push Back
Productivity
One potential reason for this is concerns about productivity. Some executives may be worried that employees will be less productive when working remotely or in a hybrid environment. While it is true that some employees may find it harder to stay focused and productive when working remotely, there is also evidence to suggest that remote work can actually increase productivity for some employees. In a survey of over 500 companies, 99% of respondents reported that their employees were as productive or more productive when working remotely.
Collaboration
Another reason for executives to push back against hybrid and remote work arrangements is the challenge of communication and collaboration. When team members are not physically present in the same location, it can be more difficult to communicate and collaborate effectively. This can be especially true for teams that are used to working together in person and may not have established effective communication and collaboration practices for remote work.
Management
Managing remote or hybrid teams can also be more challenging for some executives. Some managers may be more comfortable managing teams that are all in the same location and may find it more difficult to manage teams that are distributed across different locations. This can be especially true for executives who are used to being able to walk over to an employee’s desk or having impromptu meetings in the break room.
Security
Security concerns may also be a factor in an executive’s decision to push back against hybrid and remote work arrangements. When employees are working remotely or using personal devices, there is an increased risk of data security breaches. This can be especially concerning for companies that handle sensitive or confidential information.
Culture
Another reason for executives to push back against hybrid and remote work is culture. Some executives may believe that a certain company culture can only be maintained when all employees are present in the same location. While it is true that the culture of a company can be influenced by the physical environment in which employees work, it is also possible to maintain a strong company culture in a remote or hybrid work environment.
Remove The Guesswork
There are a variety of reasons why an executive might push back against hybrid and remote work arrangements for their employees. Concerns about productivity, communication and collaboration, managing remote teams, security, and culture are all potential factors that could influence an executive’s decision. But using guesswork to make decisions isn’t the best route.
While remote and hybrid work arrangements have been effective solutions to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important for executives to carefully consider the potential benefits and drawbacks of these arrangements as they make decisions about the future of work at their companies.
Here’s what’s key. It’s important to not guess or allow personal bias and concerns to drive your decisions. As an HR leader, it’s critical that you provide up to date, accurate data to help executives make data-driven decisions.
Let’s Get Started
Employee Cycle’s HR Analytics Dashboard provides all of your HR data visualized in minutes. It will allow you to:
- View, track, and share dashboards instantly. Stop spending hours each week on manual reporting. You can quickly create the reporting you need in minutes.
- Keep your existing HR systems. You don’t have to replace your favorite HR systems to get all your employee data in one place. Use our pre-built integrations to connect all your employee data to your HR Analytics Dashboard.
- Access the metrics that matter. When executives ask workforce questions, it shouldn’t be painful to answer. Have instant access to unified, real-time data in just a few clicks and share instantly with the team.
- Work with experts. Sometimes, technology can be intimidating. But don’t worry! Every paid Employee Cycle account has access to complementary data coaching. You can work with our team of data coaches to receive training to help you fully leverage your HR data.
Ready to start out the new year with more data-driven decisions from your executive team? Schedule your demo today to learn how Employee Cycle pulls all your employee data from your different HR systems into one HR Analytics Dashboard. Then, data-driven decisions can be made on whether your organization would benefit from continuing remote or hybrid work arrangements.
