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Take a moment to Google the phrase “let’s go back to the office” and set a filter for the past year on that search. What you will end up reading is a swing of “shall we, shall we not” articles reflecting the state of the workplace because it varied throughout the year.
Take a look back: Review of the year 2022
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Some pieces reflect the official announcement President Biden made in March 2022 urging Americans to get back to work in person. However, another spike in COVID cases in the United States in May 2022 largely buried that announcement. To date, there is no statistical evidence of a widespread return to the desktop environment.
Endless articles about remote work and statements about how change is here to stay have also been published in 2022. But, to some extent, it would seem that some remote roles are disappearing. Instead, hybrid positions are suggested: where new hires can work from home for a few days but must travel to a physical office at least two or more days a week.
Does that mean remote work is coming to an end and we’ll have to be back in the office? Let’s examine the situation.
Are remote jobs really going away?
The short answer to this question is yes – remote positions saw a decline in 2022.
On December 6, 2022, LinkedIn released its summary of “41 big ideas that will change our world in 2023.” A similar list of 29 ideas was published by LinkedIn in 2021. Surprisingly, the list didn’t mention much in terms of working from home, other than to say that hybrid and remote working were prolific and viable work options.
In 2022, LinkedIn reported that a LinkedIn Economic Graph analysis found that remote job postings were declining. Only one in seven job postings shared on LinkedIn in the United States offered remote work as an option in October 2022.
But here’s the flip side: LinkedIn data revealed that remote posts attract more than half of all job applications.
Has there been a decline in remote jobs? Yes. But has the demand for remote work completely disappeared? Absolutely not. Working professionals, especially those who have been able to work remotely amid COVID-19, have found greater flexibility and better work-life balance in remote working. Remote work is still necessary because it does more than expand the talent pool – it meets talent where it is.
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Are we going back to the office soon?
The answer to this question will not be the same from one company to another. What could happen, however, is the end of a traditional headquarters as we know it.
For decades, the head office has embodied a very special presence. Some businesses exist in skyscrapers located in the heart of a bustling bicoastal downtown area like New York or Los Angeles. Others have taken a more modern approach to the office as a campus. A large company might be in a town like Menlo Park or Glendale, just outside of a big city, and allow employees to walk from building to building as if they were walking to class in a university.
The second big idea posited by LinkedIn for 2023 is that we will begin to see the end of the campus skyscraper and headquarters. This idea is supported by data from major companies, including Meta and Salesforce, which have carried out mass layoffs throughout 2022.
In an increasingly remote and hybrid world of work, the idea of returning to the office is costly for both employer and employee. Employers would have to pay for the building lease and any other arrangements for construction on other properties. During this time, employees would resume paying for various travel expenses, such as gas, to ensure they get to work on time.
What happens if there is no more office?
LinkedIn suggests the big idea is that where there isn’t an expansive headquarters, there can be smaller office spaces instead. Depending on how many employees decide to come to work each week, this may be the most financially rewarding arrangement for all team members.
If there is no smaller office, employers may choose to redesign the work according to their needs and conditions. In April 2022, Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, sent a now widespread message company email on how Airbnb was officially a company where employees could live and work from anywhere.
The design of Airbnb depended on a few factors: employees can work from home or in the office, they can travel anywhere in the country and keep their pay, and they can travel and work around the world. Airbnb employees would also meet regularly for rallies and work together in a coordinated manner.
In 2023 and beyond, what we might see are not necessarily extremes in the workplace. Remote work is unlikely to be 100% complete. We are unlikely to see a 100% return to the office. What is much more possible and beneficial for all is companies determining their own vision of life and work and adapting it appropriately to their needs – and the needs of their talented staff.
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