Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Key Takeaways A recent survey shows that 30% of companies plan to end remote work arrangements by 2026, facing resistance from employees who favor flexibility.
Nearly 70% of workers would accept a pay cut for the privilege to work remotely, highlighting an opportunity for businesses willing to embrace remote work cultures.
Strategic hiring amid return-to-office (RTO) mandates can position innovative startups to capitalize on a wide talent pool, offering competitive advantages and operational savings.
The pandemic forced into being a new way of working that most people weren’t familiar with: remote work. Thousands of employees turned extra bedrooms, breakfast nooks and previously unused spaces into productive environments while many employers discovered that their employees could maintain, and in some cases improve, productivity.
But while many employers have embraced this new way of working for the long term, other employers long for the days of offices full of workers at their desks. In recent years, more businesses have been ordering their employees back to the office. A recent survey showed 30% of companies plan to end remote work by 2026.
But employees aren’t taking this lying down. Nearly 70% of employees have said they would take a pay cut for the opportunity to work remotely. This creates an enormous opportunity for forward-thinking founders to take advantage of a huge talent pool.
Know your advantage and use it
In the last few years, I’ve worked with multiple entrepreneurs who, in the effort to build teams quickly with quality talent, have gone nationwide or even global. As a writer at different content teams, I reported to managers located not only in the U.S. but in countries as diverse as Colombia and Turkey. Return to work mandates at bigger companies are motivating founders to select from professionals who work in almost any location.
Talent is cheaper and better when you stay flexible
... continue reading