22 Dec Hybrid Home-Work Model Allows for Flexibility, Caring for Loved Ones

How do you like to work? It turns out that remote work has allowed for flexibility and more time for workers to care for their loved ones. That’s enough in some cases to refrain from relocating elsewhere. 

In Gitlab’s comprehensive report on remote work across various industries, roles, and geographic locations, it turned out only 12% relocated recently. People are open to doing so at 35%, but for those who actually moved, it proved to be lower in number.

So for all the reports about people moving in this pandemic, it’s true to an extent but not when the reality of moving affects everyone. It’s never easy to uproot loved ones, from their homes and schools, family and friends as well as neighborhoods and businesses. Cutting off relationships is one that will be hard to reconcile. 

So it’s no surprise why 37% of people in the survey said that they prefer a  hybrid-remote work setup (part in-office, part remotely) and why it’s no big deal if commuting resumed among half of the 3,000 respondents.

For those who stay, a hybrid work model works out fine and it turns out that a flexible work schedule at (53%) also proved to be enticing for lots of people. Bringing up the numbers, being able to care for family, pets, and aging/sick relatives is at 36%, and reduced anxiety/stress from their workplace at 34%. 

Most reports about companies that have moved elsewhere for lower taxes were inevitable; many of them were just waiting for a good excuse to do so. And for those who prefer to stay, it sounds like the future of remote work will be a balance between in-office remote work and caring for loved ones at home.

If that is the case, corporate housing or furnished apartments in Silicon Valley will need to be custom-built for such a hybrid home-work scenario. Global mobility professionals should listen closely to what professionals need.

For instance, many companies have provided their employees with the office setup — some furniture and office equipment — for them to work productively. It also helps that California Corporate Housing customizes homes based on its client’s needs, which allow for flexibility also in terms of how workers like their home office.  

Of course, some challenges remain for those with families. Managing at-home distraction is one of the biggest challenges with working remotely. Collaboration with colleagues and clients and isolation are the second and third biggest challenges, respectively. But some key takeaways of the survey offer many opportunities for remote work to, well, work:

Synched time zones in remote work

Currently, more than 1 in 4 respondents belong to an all-remote organization, with no offices, embracing asynchronous workflows. An added 12% work all-remote with each employee synched to a company-mandated time zone. 

Shared documents go a long way

About 56% of remote workers said that everyone in their company can contribute to process, values, and company direction, with 50% also defaulting to shared documents and relying on meetings only as a last resort. 

Remote workers aren’t all traveling nomads

Findings showed 38% saw lack of commute as a top benefit, with that time instead spent with family (43%), working (35%), resting (36%), and exercising (34%). Employees find themselves to overall be more productive (52%) and efficient (48%), with 74% of remote workers agreeing that their company lives by its values. 

More opportunity to grow/continue a career as a parent

The benefits of working remotely have enabled employees to focus on their families without having to give up their careers. In place of commuting, 43% are able to spend more quality time with family — 55% of respondents having children under 18.

Remote work levels the playing field

14% of remote workers surveyed have a disability or chronic illness and 83% of those workers were able to work because of remote work. 

Remote is becoming second nature

Nearly 90% of those surveyed are satisfied with existing tools and processes that enable remote team communications and feel that their leadership team provides autonomy while working remotely.

Remote doesn’t mean being alone

About 82% of remote workers say their company supports in-person gatherings through events, summits, meet-ups, and more. Meanwhile, 66% are already connected to remote work communities. 

The survey’s demographics consisted mostly of 21- to 38-year-old professionals (52%) in internet and technology industries (20%) with incomes over $150,000 (24%) and gender split of male at 50% and female at 49%.