Does the idea of working in an office sound appealing to you anymore?

With months of work-from-home, the tech industry’s opinion is going every which way – some value in-house work, some prefer work-from-home, and a majority is opting for the hybrid option. Since the tech industry acts as a bellwether for office trends, many other sectors wait keenly to see what the majority decision will be.

Unsplash | Some people have just become way too comfortable working from their home

Proponents of Full-Time Office Work

Even though Mike de Vere is a tech guy, he has a rather controversial return-to-work plan for his employees: he wants them to work full-time in the office. The CEO of Zest AI appreciates the value employees working in a similar setup bring to an organization. He says this allows his workforce to build trust, communicate effectively, and permit his novice employees to learn from their more experienced colleagues.

Supporters of full-time office work mention many benefits from better communication to the multiple collaborations that sprout from happenstance interactions. They also highlight that many people may like returning to working in offices, especially after so many months spent in lockdown.

Unsplash | The more people work together, the more improved their work-selves will be

Disputed Opinions

Some of the tech industry’s largest organizations have announced plans to adopt hybrid work once the pandemic ceases. Microsoft Corporation and Salesforce.com Inc. have decided for a majority of their workforce will work in-house only a few days a week. Even Google, with its sprawling offices known to offer the best in-house perks, is testing a 3-day work-from-home option.

On the other hand, some organizations believe their workers have gotten used to saving commute time and spending more time with family. In search of a better and more affordable lifestyle and the drop in property prices, caused people to relocate to different parts of the country. A KornFerry International partner, Dan Kaplan, states that people just don’t are willing to work in offices anymore.

Unsplash | With the virus spreading at a rapid rate, people deemed moving to suburbs the best way to stay safe

Poachers Will Do What They Must

When Amazon Inc. announced its plans to shift to in-house work once the pandemic ends, workers instantly became fodder for companies looking to poach employees. A particular ad posted by a Zillow recruiter was aimed directly at Amazon employees, promising a flexible working arrangement.

However, the damage can go both ways – companies incentivizing employees with remote and flexible work will attract employees that don’t value teamwork and aren’t team players. Additionally, organizations and workers need to remember that work-from-home came about as a quick fix to a unique problem. Once the issue subsides, there shouldn’t be a need to use the remedy either.