Remote versus in-office… It’s a contentious workplace issue that is dividing leaders and workers across the U.S.
For many, being able to work from home for all or part of the week has had a transformative impact on work-life balance and juggling family life. In fact, according to a 2021 survey from Workable, 81.8% of businesses and organizations had identified that remote work and flexibility would be more important for candidates going forward.
And in 2023, Pew Research Center has identified that 35% of US workers with jobs that can be done remotely are working from home all of the time.
From an employer perspective, a separate study by Stanford of 16,000 workers over nine months found that working from home increased productivity by 13%.
But when it comes to younger cohorts, is a remote working model mutually beneficial?
Getting on board
In a recent internal memo from Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg to staff, it was revealed that engineers who had started work at the company in-person were performing better than those who began their jobs remotely.
While there was no way around this during the pandemic, an increasing number of companies are rethinking remote structures when it comes to the onboarding process and adopting a face-to-face approach.
And when you look at the data, it makes sense: new hires who are onboarded with care and attention are likely to be 18 times more committed to their employer and 82% more likely to stay with the company, particularly younger workers, and those who are in more junior positions.
The solutions
Gen Z employees are some of the most disengaged in the workplace and are struggling to feel a sense of connection and belonging.
However, there are ways of getting around this, even if an entire team works remotely.
Research shows that pairing new hires with more senior members of staff via mentorship programs has been shown to improve productivity by 87%.
On a personal level, junior staff members can foster their own sense of personal and professional growth by building relationships with more senior staff members and those on their team.
This can be done by instigating regular catch-up meetings with your manager, inviting those on your team for virtual coffees where you can learn more about team dynamics and how to approach ways of working, or instigating open discussion about how to tackle a particular task or project.
Not only will this help you feel more involved and included, it will also show your manager and professional peers that you’re committed to your role and the company at large.
Get your career going
Ready to get your career underway in an organization that fosters an inclusive working environment wherever its employees are located? The Gradcafe Job Board is the perfect place to start your search as it features thousands of jobs in supportive companies that are currently hiring, like the three below.
Microsoft
Global IT company Microsoft ranks number one on Indeed’s Work Happiness Report thanks to its flexible work schedules, PTO (paid time off), training opportunities and tuition assistance for recent graduates. It is also committed to keeping teams connected while they work apart via its own technical infrastructure. View all job opportunities at Microsoft here.
Amazon
Amazon employees currently have the choice to follow a hybrid working model with staff being asked to work from an office three days per week, where possible. In a company blog post in February of this year, CEO Andy Jassy said the move to in-person work in May 2023 should make it easier to collaborate, learn and build workplace culture.
Discover more about a career at Amazon here.
Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman offers various remote working options and staff can avail of flexible schedules including a four-day work week. For new hires fresh out of college, it also offers mentorship and guidance to help you achieve what you want out of your career. The company is also harnessing the latest technologies including AI to create a new way of working. Find an opening at Northrop Grumman here.
For thousands more internship and entry-level opportunities visit the Gradcafe Job Board today
Aoibhinn is a content writer for Jobbio. A lifestyle journalist and editor for over 10 years, Aoibhinn has written for titles in Dublin,
London, New York and Dubai.
