[Jjinbit] Between Remote Work and Commuting... Continuing Experiments to Find the 'Answer' in the New Year

Editor's Note[Jjinbit] is a shortened form of ‘Jung Hyunjin's Business Trend’ and ‘Real Business Trend.’ This segment showcases trends in ‘work’ such as organizational culture and HR systems changes after the pandemic. Based on analyses from foreign media and major overseas institutions that have not received much attention so far, we aim to deliver fresh and differentiated information and perspectives.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jung Hyunjin] "I confirmed that work runs smoothly even when working from home, so I think complaints are inevitable when they insist on coming to the office."

A friend who transferred to a major domestic company last June, during the height of COVID-19, and has been working from home for a year and a half, recently started commuting to the office and said this. They said that adapting safely to the new workplace, coordinating with team members, and working was not a big problem in the remote work environment. "Even when coming to the office, there is no change such as increasing face-to-face meetings, so I don’t really understand why they want us to come," they said.

The unavoidable situation of COVID-19 led workers worldwide to experience a ‘change in work.’ Unintentionally, a large-scale experiment in work styles was conducted by mobilizing all the technological capabilities developed so far. Various work methods were applied during this process, and companies kept operating without stopping. ‘Confirming the possibility’ was the result of the first experiment conducted over three years.

Now it is time for the second experiment to take place.

Alex Soo-jung Kim Bang, Global Program Development Manager at 4 Day Week Global, a nonprofit leading the four-day workweek experiments in the UK and the US, named ‘Experimental’ as the keyword for work changes next year. He said, "People have recognized that work methods and hours can be changed, and there is a tremendous desire for this," adding, "Now, while the direction of change can be chosen, it will take time to figure out which combination suits each industry and occupation."

This means that after understanding the phenomenon and seeing the possibilities, experiments are now needed to find answers. The options applicable to work styles?such as working from home, remote work, hybrid work, expanded flexibility, and reduced hours?have become endless. This coincides with generational changes like the emergence of the MZ generation.

We have not yet found the answer. Professor Nick Bloom of Stanford University recently revealed survey results (conducted from June to November) of workers doing hybrid work, showing that the most preferred days for working from home were Friday (51.2%) and Thursday (47.4%). Initially, it was predicted that Monday and Friday would be the most popular days for remote work, but the results were different from expectations. Professor Bloom, who has researched remote work for nearly 20 years, told Bloomberg News about these findings, "Honestly, I don’t know."

Concerns about an economic downturn arriving amid this lack of answers have become a justification for some to return to pre-COVID-19 workplaces. Bloomberg pointed out, "As recession fears grow, power is shifting back to employers, threatening the privileges gained during the pandemic." Indeed, companies at home and abroad have been announcing the ‘end of remote work’ one after another.

What companies must keep in mind at this moment is that once employees’ perceptions have changed, they cannot be reversed. Returning completely to past methods may be convenient for now, but it is no different from postponing problems that must eventually be solved. Productivity and efficiency should be increased while accepting changes in employees’ mindsets and the environment of workplaces and labor markets, and efforts should be made to narrow perception gaps. In 2023, it is time for another level of experiment to find answers suitable for each organization.