Hybrid or remote working: what is best for a prospective retiree?

Last week my company announced a trial to get employees together more in person in an office, with the aim of getting staff collaborating and innovating. This comes on the back of the energy created at the company's recent Annual Kick-Off (AKO) event in California, attended in person by several hundred staff mainly involved in revenue creation. The three day high energy event is designed to ensure all staff, particularly those involved in sales, are aligned with the company's strategic priorities and how to achieve the company's goals.

The trial runs for three months with all staff not classed as remote expected to participate. They are expected to either work in an office one day every week, four consecutive days once a month, or two consecutive days twice a month. Employees are not classed as remote if they live within 50 miles of one of the company offices.

This is a good idea for some, but not for others. The company is very focused on sales as it runs headlong to becoming profitable, and the owners have a strong track record of success when it comes to taking start-ups to the next level. The problem is that the one size fits all solution just doesn't work. I can see how teams in the same location can collaborate and innovate, but what about teams that don't have that luxury? Further, I question why it isn't possible to collaborate and innovate remotely?

I had this very conversation last weekend with an architect friend of mine. His company requires all staff to be in onsite five days a week. He sees the benefit of this and disagreed when I suggested the benefits could also be achieved if people worked remotely. He cited having to look over and discuss large drawings with his team. Apparently, it is only possible in person in an office environment. Who knew!

I know I'm lucky to work in the technology sector, but his attitude rankled with me. I admit that not everyone can or would want to work remotely, but the last three years of this pandemic have shown us it is 100% possible. All it needs is an investment in staff and infrastructure.

There lays the real nub of the issue. It costs money to invest in IT, software, and staff training. I totally get that, but this should be the norm. Defending the idea of forcing staff to attend in person approaches the problem from the wrong angle. With the right equipment and can do attitude it is absolutely possible to collaborate from anywhere with a secure wifi connection.

Take my team. It is spread across three continents, four countries, and seven offices. It is almost impossible to have everyone together in the same location at the same time. Even when online, we only have a two hour window when most of us can meet. This makes online sessions a necessity, and even then we have to ignore our staff in the Far East.

What I fundamentally disapprove of with this trial, is the insinuation that my team aren't already collaborating and innovating whilst working remotely. Whilst it may be the case that not all teams are, I can prove just how collaborative and innovative we are. My team's role is not limited to one department. It covers the entire company, so collaboration and innovation aren't so much an aspiration as an absolute necessity.

So I've made the decision to change my contract to being located remotely. I may live only 15 miles from our nearest office, but the three hours daily I'd spend commuting to it could be better spent. Plus as I'm the only member of my team in that location, I can't collaborate in person unless there was a massive travel budget and a willingness from staff to congregate in one of our offices on a regular basis. As neither of those is going to happen, I'm not going to commute to an office just to attend an online session. I can do that from the comfort of my home office.

I've unofficially worked remotely full time for over three years. Even before the pandemic, I worked remotely at least one day a week for many years. As I approach retirement I've come to appreciate the flexibility remote working has offered me, and I don't want to give that up now. 

Taking the positives from redundancy

 

The last couple of weeks have been challenging. We've seen 6.5% of our workforce made redundant, including one of my reports. We knew this was coming since we went from a public to a private company last year. It still doesn't blunt the pain of losing colleagues, many of whom have been with you through thick and thin.

When I started working all those years ago, the thought of changing employer every few years was something I hadn't envisaged. My first full-time job was for a large national bank, and the expectation was that it would be a job for life. I spent many happy years there working in various roles.

Then the inevitable happened and I was made redundant after 18 years of service. I'd seen it coming. That made it easier, but my pride and confidence took a short-term hit. It is human nature to feel wanted, and when someone tells you otherwise it does seem like a dagger has been stabbed in your back.

In circumstances like this, it's important to realise that it is nothing personal. At least it should be. If it seems like it's personal, there are options to explore including legal action. In the vast majority of cases, it's just business. Whether it is company priorities, finances, or mergers/acquisitions, the decision to downsize has been taken at a level where individuals are not considered.

My advice to anyone being made redundant is not to rush headlong into a job search. Take some time to evaluate your position and your options. Only you will know how much time to take but use it wisely. Is there some other field you'd rather work in? Is it time to make that move to the coast? Do you still want to work full-time? Have you a hobby that you could turn into a money-making business?

All these questions and more will help you understand your priorities. Speak to family and friends for their opinion. There is no stigma in redundancy anymore. Those days are long gone. Most of us have gone through it at some point, so you can be sure of a shoulder to lean on. Don't bottle it up. Remember a problem shared is a problem halved.

When you've thought things through, then you can polish your CV and approach recruiters. Be honest about your reasons for your job search. Unfortunately, your predicament is not unique so no one will think the worst of you. The chances are they'll sympathise because the same has happened to them in the past.

Above all don't forget to put yourself first. As Oscar Wilde once said, "Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." Unless your situation requires it, don't feel like you need to compromise on your ideal job. You're special and you deserve the best.

Postscript:

I strongly believe being made redundant was the best thing that happened to me professionally. I decided to pivot slightly by focussing on one of my skills for my job search. I don't regret the decision one bit and haven't looked back. Not only was I able to find a job that I thoroughly enjoy, but I've reached a financial position that my younger self could only dream of.

Would you give up hybrid work?

 

Recent research by Bloomberg questioned central London employees about whether they'd ever want to return to the office full time. Unsurprisingly nearly three quarters of them said that it would require them to receive a pay increase to do so. Of those who said they'd leave their jobs if required to return to the office full time, only an 11% pay increase would get them to change their mind.

Even before the pandemic, I was working at least one day a week at home. Since the pandemic started, I can count on one hand the number of times I've been in the office. It helps that I work in the technology sector, so have all the tools I need to communicate effectively from anywhere with a wifi connection.

It's not possible for everyone to work remotely of course. There are professions that require face to face interaction. There are also jobs where being onsite is required, but if possible employers should allow their employees the option. If they don't, they could mind staff retention suffers. If their competitors offer something they don't, people will eventually vote with their feet.

So what are my reasons for not wanting to return to office life?

My commute is 90 minutes each way. That's three hours a day, fifteen hours a week.  It would be so bad if I could work during some of this time, but on cramped trains and buses often with standing room only, this is impossible. It is a complete waste of my time. I've spent over 40 years of my life suffering late running trains, motorway tailbacks, and fellow commuters with halitosis. Unless there is a good reason for commuting, I'd rather make better use of my time.

Not having to commute saves me nearly £300 a month in travel costs alone. Throw in the inflated costs of buying lunch or coffee in city centre outlets, and you can save a further £200 a month. I'm lucky that my employer pays for my home wifi and phone as well, so working from home saves me nearly £600 a month. That's a substantial additional contribution I can make to my pension.

Even if I was in the office, it wouldn't really benefit me. No amount of snacks, office lunches, or well stocked drinks fridge would tempt me back full time. I've a team spread across the world from San Francisco to Tel Aviv and Tokyo. That makes for working hours that are fluid at best, and calling someone at 6am or 9pm is so much better when you know you've got your creature comforts close by.