Embrace the Change: Motivation Beyond the Office Walls!

In 2019, approximately 5% of full-time jobs were done from home. However, according to economist Nicholas Bloom, who conducted two decades of research on remote work at Stanford University, this percentage soared to over 60% in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic in April and May 2020, due to the impact of workplace closures.

According to a 2023 study, while over 60% of American companies allow remote work, one-fifth of American offices remain empty. In the European Union, where employers are less flexible, the vacancy rate is kept at just 8%.

Nicholas Bloom also mentioned that employees express the highest satisfaction with advantages such as reduced commuting time, shortened preparation time for work, and a more flexible schedule that makes doctor visits and picking up children from school easier.

Now let's take a look at the advantages of remote work.

From the perspective of employees:

From the perspective of companies:

Flexible Working Hours: Remote work provides employees with more control over their working hours. This allows individuals to establish a better work-life balance. Reduction in Traffic and Travel Obligations: Remote workers do not have to deal with traffic congestion or long commutes. This can enhance daily life quality and reduce stress. Better Focus and Productivity: Some employees can better focus and concentrate on their work by working away from the noise of the office or constant interruptions from meetings. This can lead to increased efficiency in their tasks. Health and Well-being: Remote work enables employees to pay more attention to their physical and mental well-being. Flexible schedules allow them to integrate health and well-being activities such as exercising or taking breaks for relaxation. Geographical Independence: Remote workers can work from anywhere in the world. This provides more flexibility when applying for jobs or choosing places to live.

Flexibility and Cost Savings: Companies can reduce expenses such as rent, electricity, and cleaning by saving on physical office spaces. Additionally, remote work allows access to talents from a broader geographical area. Increased Productivity: Employees, finding the opportunity to work in a comfortable environment at home, tend to be more productive. Decreased workplace disruptions and time saved from commuting can enhance overall efficiency. Talent Attraction and Retention: Remote work provides companies with the opportunity to access a broader pool of talent. Attracting and retaining experts without being limited by their physical location can become easier. Business Continuity: Remote work offers companies an advantage in ensuring business continuity during emergencies or extraordinary circumstances. Employees can work more resiliently and flexibly in response to events. Environmental Impact: Reducing office usage can assist companies in fulfilling their environmental responsibilities. Lower energy consumption and fewer business travels can support companies in achieving sustainability goals.

Now, let's look at the disadvantages of remote work:

From the perspective of employees:

From the perspective of companies:

Social Isolation and Loneliness: Remote workers may miss the social interactions and team spirit present in the office. This situation can lead to feelings of social isolation and loneliness. Work and Life Imbalance: Working from a home office can make it challenging to set boundaries between work and personal life. Employees may struggle to separate work-related matters from their home lives. Technology Issues: Encountering technical problems while working from a home office may be more common. Issues such as internet connectivity problems or software incompatibilities can affect the efficiency of employees' work. Ergonomic Problems: Working from home can lead to spending long hours in a non-ergonomic environment. This situation may result in back pain, neck pain, and other health issues. Communication Challenges: Remote workers may not be promptly informed about changes within the team or important information. Lack of communication can impact the proper management of tasks.

Communication and Collaboration Challenges: Remote work can make intra-team communication and collaboration more challenging. Lack of face-to-face communication can hinder the effective management of projects and tasks. Loss of Motivation and Team Spirit: Interactions in the office can boost motivation and team spirit. Remote work may decrease employees' sense of commitment to their work and impact team dynamics. Performance Evaluation Difficulties: Remote work can complicate performance evaluations. Companies may lack the chance to directly observe the daily activities and contributions of employees. Security Risks: Devices and networks used in home offices may pose security risks for companies. Information leaks and cyber attacks are potential risks associated with remote work. Team Inequality: Remote work can lead to some team members having more opportunities than others. This situation can result in inequality within the company and job dissatisfaction.

On the other hand, the Hybrid working model represents an approach that combines remote work with traditional office work. This model offers a variety of advantages to both companies and employees, hence it can be referred to as the new norm.

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Here are some benefits provided by the hybrid working model:

1. Flexibility and Work-Life Balance: The hybrid working model provides employees with flexibility. By offering the option to work in the office on certain days and from home on others, it enhances work-life balance.

2. Reduced Traffic and Travel Burden: Employees can avoid the stress of daily commutes and travel on specific days by having the opportunity to work from home.

3. Enhanced Team Communication and Collaboration: The hybrid model can increase team interaction on days spent in the office. Meetings, brainstorming sessions, and other collaborative activities can strengthen face-to-face communication.

4. Increased Employee Engagement: Employees can develop a greater sense of commitment with a work model that offers flexibility and options. This can enhance job satisfaction and employee loyalty to the company.

5. Talent Attraction and Retention: The hybrid working model provides companies with the ability to access a broader pool of talent. Talent from different geographic regions can increase diversity within the company.

6. Cost Savings: The hybrid model can lead to cost savings in office expenses. Reduced need for office space and decreased energy costs can improve the company's cost-effectiveness.

7. Environmental Impact: Balancing remote work and office days in a hybrid model can reduce environmental impact by lowering business travel and office usage. Contributions to sustainability can be positive.

8. Employee Health and Well-being: The option to work from home can provide employees with a more comfortable working environment. An ergonomic home office setup can positively impact their physical health.

The hybrid working model can better align with the needs of both employees and companies. However, successful implementation of a hybrid model requires consideration of factors such as effective communication, technological infrastructure, company culture, and management strategies.

If there are still companies overlooking the hybrid model from all perspectives, they should catch up with the era as soon as possible, and embrace the change!

Now, let's move on to some strategic recommendations for how companies and various sectors should derive insights from this situation:

• The hybrid and company-specific working style must be adopted as the company's business model. Companies should support their employees, and the productivity and gains should be shared with the employees.

• Companies should provide ergonomic facilities for remote employees in their home environments.

• Office and home manufacturers should design and produce innovative solutions in line with the findings and mega trends in this article. This is a crucial message to stakeholders in the construction sector. Productions should be made for office homes and reduced office needs.

• Office spaces should be revised and equipped with designs that support more collaboration and creativity.

• HR professionals should update their systems related to the hybrid working model. In a time when barriers have never been lifted so much, from performance management to company culture, this should not be forgotten!

• New-generation activities that will integrate remote teams, increase motivation, and strengthen communication should be implemented in the hybrid working model.

• While adopting the hybrid working model, companies need to invest more in their technological infrastructure and digital tools. More advanced technologies should be used for secure and effective remote communication.

• Companies should review and update their business policies and processes.

• Sectors that support work life, such as catering, services, cargo, health, and insurance, should update their business processes according to the new working model and bring in new approaches.