It is a fact that today's working conditions are going through fundamental changes. With the advancement of technology and the spread of communication tools, working from home has joined office work among the options for both employers and employees. It does not make sense to say outright that models like Remote and Hybrid are better or worse than working at the office; what needs to be done is to determine at which point maximum efficiency is achieved for all parties, and decide accordingly. It is more accurate to assess the current conditions and comment on whether the model is functional.
A business may decide to work entirely from home, apply a Home Office structure for specific departments or individuals, or adopt a hybrid arrangement of working half from the office and half from home. It should be added that, considering today's business conditions, the prevailing view is that working from the office is more efficient for many organizations and institutions.
Although employees in particular see remote work as advantageous, the inside story is not always positive. Factors such as time management, organizational skills and communication ability come into play. This leads the process to a conclusion: remote work is an area that requires experience and competence. A similar conclusion can be said to hold for companies as well. Many elements need to be factored in: employee performance evaluation, proper tracking of work, well-functioning coordination, uninterrupted communication, avoiding delays and errors, keeping interaction between departments running smoothly, and so on.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasizes that remote work was a mistake. He points out that many items will negatively affect working efficiency, from employees having trouble focusing at home to the internet possibly being unavailable, from household noise to the perception that people working from home can attend to other household tasks — and these are very true. When the right infrastructure and proper applicability are in place, remote work will be a good option, but unfortunately it is not possible to say these can be fully provided today.
Determining the Ideal Environment
The wisest course is not to assume that working at the office is best under all circumstances, but to think freely and arrive at the ideal outcome. The organization should first consider its capacity and its ability to supervise. For example, if it does not use time-management and work-tracking programs and applications, or has trouble organizing its workflow, remote work may end badly. But if there is already order in place internally, it is time to start thinking about who or which departments might be suitable for remote work.
For example, at my health tourism agency New Health Media, an office-based working culture prevails. From the advertising team to the design team, everyone comes to the office on a full-time schedule. That said, the company's software team works remotely. Our conclusion that this is the most efficient model for software work does not mean every department is coordinated the same way. The art design team, for instance, needs to be at the office, in contact both with their own team and with the wider group. One should also account for the possibility that similar thinking may be needed for all creative processes.
Meanwhile, at another of my companies, the video production agency BF Productions, some employees work remotely and others from the office. To repeat, what deserves attention is considering both business and employee productivity and, whichever working method is preferred, being able to manage and administer it in the best way. At the end of the day, the private sector operates differently from the public sector, and rather than keeping people at the office to the letter, it is best to take a solution-oriented approach and use the freedom to determine the most ideal method.
The Upsides of Working in an Office Environment
Working at the office, as I mentioned above, has different effects for the employee and the workplace, and so do the advantages. Once office conditions are made comfortable for employees, the benefits follow one another.
Employees can focus better on their work, because the distractions that can arise when working from home disappear. Housework, children, other members of the household and even the person themselves can be distracting. Some people, by nature, can get organized and, even while working remotely, can set up their workspace in the most productive way. The office, however, provides the professional working environment directly. Providing an ergonomic, peaceful, enjoyable space ranks among the first things an employer must do.
In an office arrangement, communication increases between people working in the same department or on the same project, collaboration strengthens, and immediate questions and problems can be handled directly. This also makes it possible to take faster action on the work. It is important not to forget the power of face-to-face communication. At New Health Media this is exactly why we make a point of periodically visiting our clients outside Istanbul as well.
Although the 9-to-6 workday can be perceived as monotony and drudgery, it actually instills a certain discipline. People who can build their own system and manage their day should be set aside as exceptions. Acquiring the habit of working is not something everyone can do easily, and office working hours act as a stabilizer in this sense. It is worth stressing that such acquired habits also have the power to bring order to one's private life.
Working from the office can be a differentiator in maintaining work-life balance. Working from home can blur the boundaries between work and private life, whereas working at the office helps separate the two more clearly.
At the office, employees can access all the resources needed for the job and have the opportunity to work in a professional atmosphere. Moreover, being together in an office environment strengthens team spirit and social relationships. Team members who work in the same office get to know each other better and communicate better with each other. Relatedly, this also has a positive effect on career development and networking, because opportunities to work on different projects and develop new skills can arise.
In short, the office working model has many advantages, from maintaining work-life balance to optimizing time management, from acquiring disciplined work habits to socializing. However, keeping people at the office without setting proper workplace standards is not right either. Additionally, working remotely with departments and individuals who are highly productive in a Home Office arrangement is a good strategy. Like software teams…
If processes such as infrastructure, planning, organization and control are in place, and management and staff are trained and equipped to adapt to remote work, working from home can even become more reasonable. At the point we have reached, since working from home is like a beta version, working and producing together in an office setting — but in an enjoyable environment — is more advantageous.
