Remote, Hybrid, or In-Office? Where I Land
Clients ask me constantly what the right answer is on remote, hybrid, or fully in-office work. My recommendation has genuinely shifted over the years — back in 2020 we were all just scrambling to make remote work function at all. Here's where I've landed.
Hybrid Wins on Productivity
The studies I've seen suggest you get about 12% more productivity from an employee allowed to work one to two days a week from home — assuming they're a good employee with a solid work ethic to begin with.
The reason is simple: those are heads-down days. No water cooler conversations. No long lunches. Nobody wandering over to their desk to chat. Real focus time.
Fully Remote Has a Cost
Go 100% remote and we see roughly a 30% decrease in employee engagement. That's substantial, and it means people aren't genuinely connected to the company.
Here's what disengagement looks like in practice: those employees will leave for an extra $2,000. They're working in their living room, and one company is more or less interchangeable with another. Plug and play.
That doesn't mean you can't build a fully remote company. Plenty do it well. But it requires real HR policies and deliberate practices to keep people connected — and that takes considerable time and effort.
Five Days In-Office Costs You About 20%
Some owners tell me they like the hands-on approach — seeing Bill at his desk, knowing Bill is working, five days a week.
You can absolutely do that. Just budget for a 15-20% salary premium to attract and keep people under those terms.
And understand the talent math. Roughly 65% of employees who can work remotely want to. If you require five days in the office, you won't even get the chance to interview a large share of the A-level candidates out there. You'll be choosing from a smaller pool.
Where I Land
For most small businesses, hybrid — one to two days at home — is the sweet spot. You get more productivity, happier employees, and access to A-level talent instead of settling for B-level.
If you choose all on-site, that's a legitimate decision. Just make it with open eyes, and add the salary premium you'll need to make it work.
Trying to figure out the right arrangement for your business? It's one of the things we consult on regularly. Grab a free 30-minute session with one of our HR experts, and let's think it through together.