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Remote work or Onsite?
The ever-growing discussion of the pros and cons of remote work and office work has such strong opinions that it’s tough to pick sides. Our hybrid approach at Parallel allows us to build a culture that fosters collaboration while giving the team the flexibility to work remotely.
What’s your take on it?
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Aruna Neervannan
For certain jobs, it makes sense to work from office. In tech, most don't. Hybrid can be the best, but it depends on the terms.
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From my experience, it works best if everyone is remote or everyone is onsite (including hybrid onsite).
I actually think remote work can reduce the "office politics" burden that runs rampant through onsite cultures. At all of my onsite jobs in my career, I paid a penalty for refusing to play politics.
At my remote jobs, there is a much greater emphasis on intentionality and output. Don't interrupt someones day with a meeting unless it is necessary. People are judged on the quality of their work rather than their ability to schmooze.
@matty_reed This is a very interesting and important outlook towards which shows how different work settings can have an impact on an organisation's culture. Thanks for sharing 🙌
Had an awesome experience in both remote and onsite jobs. The key for nailing it is organising work differently.
Like recently talked with VP of HR, whose team has an awesome policy: covering travel expenses for teams so they can meet offline occasionally.
Well-thought organisation of work makes or brakes both options
@kostyabolsh That's great to hear, as we too have implemented a similar policy for our hybrid setup. It has been a great success for us, still more to learn and to grow though 🙌
remote work has its advantages, there's something to be said for the collaborative energy and in-person interaction that comes with onsite work. Brainstorming sessions and quick chats by the watercooler can foster great ideas
@ethan_samul Onsite work interactions that happen between teams and individuals do spark some great ideas and solutions to problems. This is definitely the most beautiful organic process that builds with the culture over time.
Remote work offers flexibility and boosts productivity by allowing people to work in their preferred environments, improving work-life balance and reducing commuting stress. It supports inclusivity and efficiency in a global context
@mohammed_nihar I agree with this and I also feel like working in office allows team bonding better, strengthens company culture and also creates a growth-focused work environment. So maybe hybrid would be a good option?
@robin_dhanwani2 I agree with you, but sometimes working without the hassle of traveling and a few variables makes me personally feel at peace.
@pari_pushpakar Yes, working in office allows team bonding better, strengthens company culture and also creates a growth-focused work environment. At times, some people do prefer working in silos. So maybe a hybrid setting would be ideal?
@robin_dhanwani2 I guess hybrid setting could be ideal because It allows us to enjoy both rest and activities even ensuring you get relaxation while still making the most of your weekends.
@liam_oram That's a very interesting point; to add on for junior roles even senior folks of a company will have to spend some time in office to make the juniors accustomed to the culture and also build a better transparent bond which might get lost if people are only connected virtually.
I believe most business owners prefer to gather their team members all in one place, but employees kindda like remote working I guess.
@salar__davari In my experience, employees do like remote working and sometimes people are more comfortable working in silos. But, I also feel like working in office allows team bonding better, strengthens company culture and also creates a growth-focused work environment. So maybe hybrid would be a good option?
@tim_david12 Yes, at least during the initial work onsite work helps the new joinee to feel welcomed in the workspace and build new connections within the company fast.
A 4-day remote, 1 day onsite (Thursday) would be an interesting model for employers. Monday morning a team meeting would set the week of expectations and alignment, and deliverables Mon.-Wed.
That Thursday could have an innovative structure for professional team collaboration and open-floor discussions from the work, done that week. And, maybe "break bread" with each other at happy hour or similar afterward (open option). People work remote on Friday and finish the week strong.
However, as a fully-remote designer and father, full-remote has its perks when it comes to available time to grow other skills and be a family member...not to mention access to food :) Hope this helps.
@logiclabdesign This is a pretty well thought out plan. We too have setup a hybrid system in our office; where 3 days are work from office- Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
We have also introduced a concept called 'Freestyle Fridays', where each individual can spend the second half of Friday for upskilling, reading a book, attending a session or simply taking a break to relax.
I think both remote work and onsite have their pros and cons. Personally, I prefer a hybrid approach like the one at Parallel. Here’s why:
Remote Work Pros:
Flexibility: Helps with work-life balance.
Productivity: Fewer distractions can mean more focused work.
Onsite Work Pros:
Collaboration: Easier to brainstorm and solve problems face-to-face.
Culture: Builds stronger team relationships and company culture.
A hybrid model offers the best of both worlds, allowing for flexibility while maintaining team cohesion and collaboration. It’s all about finding the right balance!
@pdftopdf That's true each organisation can have a different balance towards a hybrid work setting. It always comes down finding the balance in the setting each individual and their respective teams are the most comfortable with.