In recent weeks, I have been reading and watching more and more articles about the disadvantages of working fully remote (for companies and employees). And I am increasingly observing and reading about companies returning to the office. One such article discusses Disney and others returning to the office: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/disney-remote-work-office-four-days-a-week/
For those of you considering fully remote work opportunities with out-of-state employers, I’d encourage you to consider the following:
What will you do if that company starts requiring its employees to report to the office, even a few days a week (ie Disney, Starbucks)? Before saying ‘I’ll just look for another job’, keep in mind that job hopping and short tenure with any one employer do not look good on a resume. Short tenure with one’s most recent employer is one of the top reasons candidates quickly get cut from the screening/selection process.
Limited promotional Opportunities
Oftentimes, the next promotion is a position residing at the corporate office, requiring the employee who holds that position to report to the office on a routine basis. If you think you’ll be looking for a promotion at some point but don’t care to move, this is a factor you need to take into consideration.
Employees have a tendency to get overlooked for promotions when they aren’t reporting in-person to the corporate office (the out-of-sight / out-of-mind dynamic). Promotion opportunities are increasingly limited as you get further and further from the corporate office. Those working in a satellite office don’t have the visibility or the relationships with superiors that those working at a corporate office have. Visibility and relationships are even more limited for those working in complete isolation and not reporting to any company office.
During a recent podcast in which the downfalls of fully remote work were discussed, Patrick Lencioni, the author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, stated “Comfort and convenience are trumping truth and personal growth” –Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast Jan 19, 2023
Patrick makes the point that those in isolation are extremely limited in their interpersonal and intellectual growth. It’s the iron sharpens iron dynamic (or lack thereof). When people aren’t around each other they don’t learn from each other’s mistakes and successes, they are more limited in their ability to share knowledge, and their interpersonal skills diminish. I have heard many state, and I experienced it myself working from home during 2020, that their interpersonal skills diminish as a result of working remote.
I highly encourage anyone entertaining a fully remote opportunity to consider these facts. Our job as a staffing company is to serve as a consultant and coach to our clients (those looking to hire) and our candidates (those looking for a new job opportunity). If you’d like to learn more about what we are seeing in the market and/or what opportunities might be best for you feel free to give us a call at 405-455-2633.