Management + Systems

Here Jason Bader, principle at The Distribution Team, discusses how remote working is now part of every company’s future and it is time that management stopped fighting against it and instead embraced it.

I was speaking with a couple of separate clients last month and the subject of remote work and workplace expectations came up in both conversations. In one of the conversations, I was speaking with the owner of the business and she was struggling with the idea of remote workers. This wasn’t the way she grew up in the business and isn’t comfortable with this dynamic we have been living under for the past couple of years.

In the second conversation, I was speaking with a department head who was struggling with an owner who was clearly against the concept of remote work and barely made accommodations during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. He is clearly in the ‘this is a passing fad’ camp and sees no reason to recognise the changing dynamic of work. In both situations, the work environment is being challenged by owners that fail to see the ‘writing on the wall’.

This isn’t a recent phenomenon, and we can’t just blame it all on the ‘Millennials’. They are the easy scapegoats here. We love to bash ‘Millennials’ for bucking the traditions of the past, being lazy, entitled, etc. However, if we really examine the folks who benefit most from a remote environment, it’s those of us from the ‘Generation X’ vintage. We are the fiercely independent ones who hate to punch a clock and like the flexibility of a non-traditional work environment. 

‘Gen X’ workers tend to thrive in a non-monitored environment. Where some of the conflict may occur is what we know about the collaborative needs of the ‘Millennial’ worker. Zoom may bridge this gap, but it is poor substitute for face-to-face interaction and mentoring. This generation was never built to be self-starters, so it is fair to be concerned about their ability to work remotely. I am not saying that an independent environment should be reserved for the ‘Gen Xers’, but a ‘Millennial’ worker must demonstrate the ability to work independently before this privilege is granted. Like it or not, we are moving to a decentralised work environment. The pandemic, for all it’s upheaval, taught us that many functions in our organisations could be performed away from the traditional office environment. Technology was already in place to allow us to do this, but many of us just discovered the functionality.

Besides the fear of productivity, there are several other barriers that prevent business owners from embracing a remote work concept. If I can’t see them, how do I know they are working? This mentality demonstrates a clear lack of trust and relationship with the workforce. When management fails to connect with their team members, trust breaks down. I would challenge the communication skills of any manager who fears working with a remote team member. Because they only know one way to convey expectations, the potential to lead a non-premise-based employee is unsettling. Too many managers allow ego to creep into their communication style. Successful leaders understand that it is not about the employee learning how to interpret direction. Conversely, it is the leader’s responsibility to learn how to communicate their expectations in a way that the employee can absorb the direction. 

I hear the ‘culture’ argument being thrown around when trying to defeat the remote work scenario. Again, this a fear-based argument. Remote work will not kill your company culture. Was it really that fragile to begin with. ‘Culture’ is not built by people working in cubes and passing each other in the hallway. ‘Culture’ thrives when the associates take pride in the organisation. Employee satisfaction is huge driver of ‘culture’. When associates’ needs are being met, and they feel heard, ‘culture’ thrives. For some, the ability to work remotely has greatly enhanced their personal well-being and life balance. The ability to do valuable work, earn a decent living, and wear their pajamas all day, can drive employee satisfaction. Who cares if they don’t dress up, drive to the office, and ride the desk? It’s about the results, not the path, right? 

Some of the roles in the organisation are not eligible for remote work. Operational teams and customer facing roles need to be on premise. Someone has to work in the warehouse, man the counter, and deliver the product. This is where I see the ‘fairness’ argument pop up. If this set of employees is required to be in the office, then it isn’t fair that we let certain roles work from home. Do I have to remind everyone that life isn’t fair? Not all roles are created equal. Do we have a flat pay rate for all employees? Of course not. But wouldn’t that be fair? I know that I am going a bit far here, but the whole argument that everyone should come to the office because some are required is weak at best. I believe that it really a mask for senior management’s inability to figure out how to get past their own fears associated with the decentralised work model. 

Beyond associate satisfaction, there is another silver lining to the great shift to remote work – recruiting. As I was discussing with a client, she is no longer bound to recruiting people withing driving distance. Without this natural barrier, her candidate set just multiplied. There are so many talented people who have chosen to live in a place that fits their lifestyle. I live in a place like this. Frankly, those who relocated here during the pandemic are the most eager to be productive. Their goal is to make a living in a place of their choosing. Are they really going to jeopardise that by slacking off? I don’t think so. 

Those of you still struggling with this change of work environment have two choices – adapt or die. Ok, it’s not that dramatic. You have the opportunity to find peace with this new decentralised work environment or you can ‘hang up the cleats’. Quit trying to ‘push the boulder uphill’. The struggle and angst in your company will distract you from the really important things like making a profit and crushing the competition. This is not a hill you want to die on, and you might just find that your people will rise to the occasion. Good luck and know that I am always here to help.