The Pandemic was a watershed moment that introduced, permanently, the concept of remote and hybrid work.
51% of knowledge-based workers globally, a category where most engineering professionals fall under, are expected to work remotely in some capacity throughout 2022 and beyond.
With this “new normal”, what is the reality of remote work for engineers?
WHAT WORKERS WANT:
- 91% of workers in the U.S. are hoping their ability to work at home continues after the pandemic.
- 2 out of 3 workers would consider looking for new employment if required to work in the office full-time.
- Top reasons for wanting to work remote include:
- Avoiding commute time
- Increased productivity with less distraction
- Beneficial for mental wellbeing
- The flexibility for family/personal obligations
WHAT EMPLOYERS WANT:
Companies that develop products are now requiring their engineers to come on-site more often and perform the following tasks:
- Collaborate: A major concern with remote work is the prominent creation of silos, which leads to the decline of communications with personnel outside of immediate teams and departments. Employers want to foster partnerships with other engineering teams in the office to reduce work isolation and meet “Go-to-market” deadlines.
- Prototyping and Testing: There are tools that enable prototyping and testing remotely, however, it is widely accepted that professional-grade tools and instruments needed to advance product development are located on-site, in companies’ R&D facilities.
- Learn: Several studies have come out that new hires, especially entry-level college graduates, have a learning disadvantage with remote work. Lack of in-person interactions causes less opportunity to learn practical skills from managers and peers. New hires would also benefit from experiencing workplace camaraderie to get a good grasp of the company’s culture, which would in turn boost morale.
WHAT IS THE ANSWER:
Obviously, workers and employers will need to compromise – and many compromises have begun to take shape. Many companies and their workers are trying to find the right balance to satisfy the desire for flexibility for the employees and the productiveness sought by the employers. Whatever form of the hybrid workweek teams within a company adopts, it must satisfy the common goals of:
- Collaboration
- Flexibility
- Completing projects/meeting deadlines
- Training and career development.
To effectively retain – and attract – top-performing engineers, employers find that they must offer a balanced hybrid arrangement. Work flexibility is without a doubt one of the most sought-after benefits for workers.
Do you need engineering resources to complement your hybrid workforce? Contact SoloPoint Solutions today: