Times have indeed changed. Many of the largest companies in the world already made remote work part of their culture, and some of the professions and occupations that used to be considered face-to-face only have completely changed the game for their industry by incorporating remote options and using them to boost their growth.

In today’s world, the confines of an office space no longer apply like they used to. With more and more people working remotely, companies are now having to consider how to integrate the remote work model into their long-term plans. However, trying to figure out the model that will work best for you is somewhat uncharted territory for those businesses accustomed to more conventional ways of working. So, if you feel out of your depth trying to determine the way forward, don’t panic, you’re not alone. We’re here to help you break down the remote work model that could potentially work best for your team.

The (mainly) office-based remote work model

The office-based remote work model is one that most closely matches the traditional working model. Remote-based working is kept to a minimum here, with employees spending the majority of their working day in the office. However, it does still accommodate working from elsewhere (other than the office) for a day or two within a week. And, therefore, still offers employees some flexibility regarding what their workweek looks like.

That said, this model is still popular amongst many companies that prefer to have their team at a central location instead of scattered remotely. Additionally, choosing this type of remote work model may also depend on your business type. For instance, the office-based remote work model may suit jobs where there is a need for more face-to-face customer interaction. Or if there is a need for colleagues to work closely with each other in real-time.

The totally flexible remote work model

While some companies have been more reserved about embracing the remote work model, there are others that have no qualms concerning where their employees work. This model, therefore, gives the employee total flexibility in choosing whether they want to be office-based or work remotely.

Although seemingly simple in principle, many businesses find the concept particularly challenging to execute, because of all the planning that needs to go into ensuring that all tasks are covered and completed, irrespective of the employee’s location. Furthermore, duties and responsibilities would need to be streamlined to ensure that tasks are completed without a hitch. Understandably, the totally flexible remote work model is not for everyone. However, this flexible remote work model can be advantageous for companies that are looking for a modern alternative to the strictly 9to5 regime, as well as for building teams with different cultural backgrounds and stories that overall make the company culture richer .

The remote work (with exceptions) model

In this example, a company would embrace remote work based on their requirements or preferences around how remote work could benefit their business. This model is, in a sense, stricter and is more regulated regarding how and when employees work remotely. For example, based on the company’s requirements, this could mean that only select days (and select hours) would be reserved for remote work.

Similarly, this could also mean that only specific employees are afforded the opportunity to work from home. As a result, the remote work (with exceptions) model could also be seen as being flexible inflexible. But again, this type of working arrangement could end up being the best solution for your business when it comes to remote work if you have strict deadlines to abide by or if you have the need to have team members in close proximity to each other in order to carry out their responsibilities efficiently.

Regardless of what you decide, it is important that these exceptions are agreed in HR contracts for new employees, and that the expectations are completely transparent.
A combination of the three remote work model

This remote work model allows employees to suit a remote work model that works best for them. It could, therefore, be office-based, totally flexible, or fully remote. For many employees, being given a choice to work how and where they choose sounds like the ideal dream scenario.

And, it can also be a win-win for the company as many prospective employees naturally gravitate to the freedom and flexibility that this remote work model allows.

But it can have its drawbacks if not appropriately managed. Without a proper organisational structure in place, this can leave the door open to disputes and feelings of bias. Often, a more sensitive or sensitized approach is needed here to ensure that everyone is represented and treated fairly at all times.

The virtual remote work model

On opposite sides of the spectrum, the virtual work model best represents a fully remote work model. In this case, a centralized office will more than likely not exist at all, and employees work remotely in the true sense of the word. In addition, a virtual work model will often include a global workforce of talented professionals from around the world. Correspondence is usually done virtually via project management platforms, with little to no in-person meetings. The virtual work model allows for the most flexibility regarding remote work. And even though it can also be challenging, to say the least, to manage a workforce that can be spread globally, a big advantage the virtual remote work model offers is the unique opportunity to nurture from the diversity of opinions, ideas, and backgrounds of having a team from different parts of the world, country or city moved by the same purpose and values.

The scattered work model

The scattered work model could be misconstrued as your more typical remote work model. However, the scattered work model paints a bit of a different scenario of what working remotely looks like. For scattered or distributed teams, this work model is not built around the premise of remote work but rather is the result of the company’s unique need to have employees in a specific location, remote or otherwise. For example, it could result from companies requiring access to a niche skill set or level of expertise that might just happen to be on the other side of the continent.

Choosing a model that works for your team

Perhaps, one of the most significant advantages that remote work has brought to the table is that it provides both companies and their employees with more options. And given that remote work is now becoming part and parcel of how we do business nowadays, it is imperative that companies and their teams adapt to these changes by implementing remote work models like these to ensure continued growth and success post-pandemic without missing a beat.