Are you thinking about making adjustments to your business that will have fantastic results in the long run? This article explores whether you should work from the office or remain remote, now that the COVID-19 pandemic is cooling down.

The worst of COVID now seems to be behind us and while social distancing remains, it’s possible to return to the office and open up your doors. This is going to be a big change for some companies that have been working almost 100% remotely for nearly a year. There are various factors you need to consider before deciding whether to return to the office or continue to operate remotely. 

Does Your Business Suit Remote Work?

First, you need to determine whether your business is suited for remote operations. According to Remoters.net, the majority of remote jobs are tech-based. This is followed by marketing roles. The question you should ask is whether your business relies on face-to-face interactions. This will usually be the case if your business is targeting a particular geographic area. 

Freelancers Or Employees? 

Working remotely does mean that hiring freelancers makes more sense. The main difference between freelancers and employees is taxes and general costs. If you have contractors, then you can cut out a lot of the additional costs that come with hiring a full team. Hiring employees is also more complex because you need to work out a salary model. Hiring freelancers provides more flexibility but significantly reduces your chance of building a strong office culture. This is one of the drawbacks of remaining remote. 

The Right Setup

You also need to consider whether you have the right setup to continue operating remotely in the long term. You must consider whether you have the tech in place to provide the right connections and keep team members actively engaged. If you are staying with the remote model, it could make sense to invest in a customized shared platform. This can be designed around the individual requirements of your business. It will ensure that projects can be updated in real-time and you will be able to monitor the progress of different team members. IT services in Sonoma County, CA and similar solutions can ensure you have the right setup for remote work. 

Is There An Alternative?

Of course, if neither of these business models suits you, then you could essentially choose to have your cake and eat it too. In doing so, you will create a hybrid work environment that could be highly beneficial. However, you need to make sure that every member of the team is engaged, even if they regularly come into the office. 

The clear benefit of this type of work model is that you are giving your employees the choice. They can work from home if they desire or operate from an office environment. Regardless of where an employee chooses to work, everything needs to be integrated. 

We hope this helps you understand whether you should run your business from an office or begin working remotely. Remember, it’s important that you don’t gravitate to the closest option to what your business model originally was. Particularly as so many people are discovering new preferences about how they want to work.