As in-person meetings become increasingly risky, more and more employers are giving their workers the option to work remotely. Some employees have decided to take the offer to work entirely from home, while others choose a hybrid model.
A fully remote team includes employees who work anywhere but a brick-and-mortar office. A hybrid team has employees who work remotely sometimes and from a central office the rest of the time. Both options bring unique challenges and rewards for employees and employers alike.
Employees Need Tech Tools For Both Hybrid And Remote Work
Employees who work remotely need reliable tech tools. These include devices that can access the cloud securely. Employers need to outfit their remote employees with business apps and mobile tools, along with communications systems that enable them to work on projects together. A strong Internet connection is also a necessity for video conferencing.
On the entrepreneurial side, some remote professionals consider a virtual address. With a virtual office address, you can receive mail without having to share anyone’s home address with business clients and vendors–giving day-to-day business interactions a professional glean. As an added bonus, on-the-go entrepreneurs can use the website or app to keep track of what’s in your box without missing a beat.
Remote Work Opens The Candidate Pool
Businesses that want to hire the best candidates have more options when they offer remote work. Companies with hybrid situations limit themselves to candidates who live geographically close to their offices. Fully remote work appeals to those who want to open their options beyond borders.
Hybrid Workers Find A Better Work-life Balance
One complaint about remote work is the difficulty balancing work and life, as both occur at the same location. Because hybrid workers spend time at the office with other employees, they have a better work-life balance. These employees understand which tasks to leave at the office to relax and do things they enjoy at home.
Employers who use a hybrid team can work with employees to decide who works at home and who spends more time at the office. Employees can split their time in ways that work best for their work-life balance.
Challenges With Remote And Hybrid Collaboration
Employers with remote and hybrid workers have to be intentional in the way employees collaborate. For example, remote employees do not have time to meet in shared office spaces to collaborate on projects.
Instead, these teams have to figure out how to collaborate in a virtual space, a virtual meeting app, or using another tool that brings people together despite time zone differences. Workplace policies must include collaborative activities that can be done asynchronously.
Remote Workers Need More Cybersecurity Resources
Remote workers don’t usually have robust cybersecurityresources in their homes. Employers need to provide their remote workers with cybersecurity resources, high-quality encryption tools, and strong password policies.
Creating Hybrid Workspaces In The Office
When employees come to the office, they need efficient and comfortable workspaces. Team members need to access meeting rooms for collaborative projects, and they need to have safe places to leave technology and other items at the office.
The team also needs access to the same tools when working from home. Employers need to decide if they want to equip employees with a second set of tools or let them bring tech tools home for their remote workdays.
Final Word
Employers navigating the new normal have to consider what working conditions will fit their business needs. Offering flexible remote and hybrid conditions allows thought-workers to spend less time commuting and more time being productive.
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