From Remote Work to In-Person, How to Make Your Return-to-Work Policy a Competitive Advantage

The Covid pandemic changed the world. Most significantly, it cost millions of lives, a fact no one will recover from soon. But it also created shifts throughout society that are unlikely to be completely unshifted.

 

It revealed fault-lines in everyone’s standard operating procedures—from families, to businesses, to governments. It also revealed the grit, heroism, patience, and kindness of people all over the world. The cruel fact is that not everyone survived, but those who did learned and grew. Not every business survived either, but those that did are still evolving to succeed within with the new landscape.

 

One of the biggest areas of transformation in the business world has been about where people do their work. We learned that people work better from home than many people feared. We found out that people love their autonomy but also that isolation can lead to individual depression and team dysfunction. We also innovated, as a society, technologies and procedures that enabled remote work to be as successful as it was for so many.

 

But what now?

 

Businesses want to see their people together again. Workers don’t want to lose the flexibility and autonomy of remote work. What are our options?

 

Remote, Hybrid, In-Person—Three Models

Though some people worked remotely prior to the pandemic, it was rarely a company policy as much as a perk for certain workers or a nod to unique circumstances. Job-seekers rarely saw “remote work option” as a bullet point on their Indeed or LinkedIn job listings, and an entire generation of business owners and CEOs considered remote work akin to “no work.” Fears that receptionists and sales clerks might grumble if the marketing staff worked remotely created rigid “no-remote” policies that some employees felt were draconian and senseless.

 

On the other hand, in the return-to-the-office camp, there are numerous articles and studies arguing that collaboration is only achieved when teams are in-person, such as this one by Condeco, a company whose purpose is to help businesses get their workers functioning back in the office again. 

 

If remote means a workforce that never shares space, and in-person means everyone is in the office every day, a hybrid work policy is implemented by many companies who want to find the sweet spot between the two. Does a hybrid plan keep everyone happy and maintain maximum productivity? In many cases, it does.

 

Dos and Don’ts of Back-to-Work

We’ve seen companies like Apple and Google walk back precipitously implemented back-to-the-office policies that got serious pushback from employees. Thoughtful planning can help companies avoid backpedaling and flip-flops.

 

Don’t:

  • Rush to decisions and then have to rethink
  • Worry about what the competition is doing
  • Be rigidly demanding about in-office work if the entire leadership team works from home
  • Put team or division managers in charge of back-to-work decisions for their staff

 

Do:

  • Maintain flexibility at all times (flexibility means you don’t have to constantly rewrite rigid rules)
  • Think strategically so your policy becomes an advantage in recruitment, hiring, and employee satisfaction/longevity
  • Figure out what else is happening in your part of the world (remember you probably recruit more from your neighbors, and not necessarily from your competition)
  • Create policies that enhance work satisfaction, make employees feel seen and heard, while also setting expectations that productivity is the goal
  • Create a clear, company-wide policy

 

Logic rules in many cases. For example, some businesses cannot offer remote work. Manufacturing and retail jobs cannot be done remotely, whereas work at a tech company or marketing firm can be. Job roles determine workplace options. Some businesses have always had sales teams that worked remotely 99% of the time. No one questioned it because it was built into the role.

 

And for a hybrid workplace, consider the hierarchy of needs discussed in this article in the Harvard Business Review. In it, the author Rae Ringel says that high complexity goals require people to be in-person and low complexity goals do not. Somewhere in the middle there is wiggle room for a hybrid or in-person choice. Complexity is defined as including “emotional complexity, the range of interdependence, or the need for intervention.” Example of high complexity goals requiring employees be in person include conflict mediation, donor meetings, leadership development, and team building. At the low-complexity end of the spectrum are emergency briefings, skills trainings, and committee updates. Supervision meetings, performance reviews, and strategic planning are left in the middle where nuance can be considered.

 

How Your Back-to-Work Policy Can Give You a Competitive Edge

The goal of your return to office policy is the same as your company’s goal—to be as productive as possible, gain access to new talent, and avoid needless employee turnover, which is costly in a number of ways.

 

Considerations include:

  • Financial savings—Can a strategic hybrid work plan allow you to downsize your bricks and mortar presence and save money that can be allocated to things like salaries, recruitment, research, marketing, or just about anything else?
  • Access to more and better-qualified candidates—Does a flexible policy regarding remote or hybrid work allow you to hire people you would otherwise have no chance of getting?
  • Productivity—Will your policy elicit the highest level of productivity from your people? Job satisfaction, loyalty, and commitment all have an impact on quality of work.

 

According to this piece in Wharton’s Executive Education newsletter, being in-person at least some of the time helps companies maintain the unique “feel” of their workplace culture. Without that, the question is: “How can companies differentiate themselves from each other in the war for talent?”

 

In 2021, PwC conducted a survey of executives and employees to learn about their opinions of remote work a solid year into the Covid pandemic. They found that:

  • 83% of management and workers alike confirmed that remote work had been a huge success in their company.
  • Employees are usually less eager for a return to the workplace than their bosses, but both groups believe the office, though changing in significant ways, is not going anywhere.
  • 87% of employees believe that shared work space leads to successful collegial relationships and team collaborations.
  • New employees want to be in the office more often than not, and management agrees. They and their bosses agree that trainings, supervision by and access to supervisors, and learning company culture are all best done in person.

 

When it comes to the question of how a hybrid model would settle out, there is no consensus. More than half of the workers surveyed would like to be remote three days or more per week, whereas executives are more convinced of the opposite—that most employees should be in-person three or more days a week.

 

Different companies will find what works for them—their business model, mission, workforce, and culture.

 

Let’s look at how two of 180one’s clients have managed these questions.

 

Two Companies Create Policies that Work for Them

 

First, let’s look at a manufacturing company with 1000+ employees. Leadership did a deep dive into each role and its function within the company to come up with a remote/hybrid model that worked for them. They did not want a one-size-fits-all policy. The manufacturing workforce has to be on-site—their job simply requires it. Other roles within the company could be done on a partially remote schedule. They came up with a clear policy for each department and role.


This choice considers all factors. Whereas many manufacturing companies would prefer an easy to enforce blanket policy that simply brings everyone back on-site, this company allowed for a nuanced consideration of what productivity looks like across a diverse range of roles and how their worksite/remote policy can enhance their hiring capacity. 


The next company is smaller. Three-hundred employees provide professional services in a culture that greatly values collaboration. This company understood the benefits to the recruitment and retention of top-quality candidates from all over the country by using a 100% remote model. But they came up with a genius plan for how to maintain the company’s strong collaborative culture and keep their employees connected. Periodically through the year they create a pop-up office somewhere in the US and invite employees who are in striking distance of the location to join members of their team for a week or two. The company provides hotel accommodations and reserves a conference/workspace in a hotel or conference center.

 

Their unique approach is hugely popular with their workers. They value the autonomy and flexibility of remote work but look forward to their in-person office opportunities to bond with colleagues and experience the higher energy of in-person work several times a year.


Takeaways

For too long, the decisions about remote or hybrid work policies decisions were based on entrenched biases and emotional reactions to something few people had much experience with. Fear of the unknown had executives and managers in turmoil. But, by and large, things worked out. Workers across the country proved to themselves and their bosses that they are adaptable, trustworthy, and committed, whether they are in the office or at their kitchen table. The success of remote work during the pandemic made all of us rethink how and where corporate work gets done.


When those remote/hybrid policy decisions are based on research and data, real conversations with people in your company, and how best to reach your long-range goals—the policies receive less pushback, are more successful, and engender trust. 


By Greg Togni April 23, 2025
180one is pleased to announce our recent partnership with Pike Street Capital and the successful placement of a new Board Member for Superior Duct Fabrication, a Pike Street portfolio company!  Superior Duct Fabrication is a leading provider of commercial and industrial HVAC duct systems, known for its high-quality fabrication, reliability, and customer service. The company serves a wide range of industries, delivering complex ductwork solutions with precision and speed. In 2023, Pike Street Capital, a Seattle-based private equity firm focused on industrial growth companies, acquired Superior Duct Fabrication as part of its strategy to invest in scalable, high-performing manufacturing businesses. Pike Street partners with management teams to accelerate growth and build long-term value through operational improvements and strategic leadership. As part of this effort, Pike Street Capital partnered with 180one to recruit a new board member to help guide Superior Duct’s continued expansion and success. Congratulations to Pike Street Capital, Superior Duct Fabrication, and the 180one Search Team on a successful board placement!
By Greg Togni April 7, 2025
Let’s face the music, or the new reality that attracting executives to move across the country for an opportunity has become increasingly difficult for a variety of circumstances. As businesses look to recruit top talent at executive levels, understanding the shifts in migration trends before you launch a search, better yet, as you plan a position, might be the difference of landing a great candidate in a reasonable amount of time, or dragging out a search for the unicorn who can’t be found. Let’s look at some of the factors and trends together that might shape how your organization moves forward in conducting a national executive search. Understanding the 2024 Relocation Landscape The 2024 Allied Migration Report paints a picture of a U.S. population increasingly seeking affordable living spaces, a better work-life balance, and more favorable economic conditions. Despite a 20% overall decrease in interstate relocations from 2022 to 2024, the main driver of those relocating is the alignment of their personal and professional goals. The report also underscores the shift toward midsize cities and suburban areas as more desirable destinations. This trend is being driven by a combination of rising housing costs in major cities, economic uncertainty, and a greater demand for improved quality of life. Companies looking to relocate candidates must consider a range of factors to ensure that they are not only attracting talent but also providing a work environment that matches these evolving preferences. Here are 5 key aspects that companies should score themselves against to determine how desirable their location is for the market. Depending on how one scores, it can help highlight the probability of relocating or needing to adjust the candidate profile to match candidates in the current geographic market not needing relocation. 1. Housing Affordability and Living Costs One of the most significant motivators for relocation in 2024 is housing affordability. In 2023, soaring housing costs in urban centers like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago pushed many people to consider smaller cities and suburban areas where the cost of living is lower. When relocating candidates, it's crucial for employers to consider how the cost of housing in their city or region will impact the candidate’s overall financial well-being. If your company is in a higher cost area, providing a sign-on bonus towards housing can be one lever to pull to cover the gap. 2. Remote Work and Flexible Work Arrangements The rise of remote work in the wake of the pandemic continues to shape relocation patterns. With many employees now able to work from anywhere, some candidates are looking for jobs that allow them to live in more affordable or attractive locations while still benefiting from a competitive salary. The ability to work from home (or a hybrid model) has made relocation less about proximity to the office and more about finding a place that offers a better quality of life. For employers, it’s essential to evaluate whether the role can be offered remotely or with flexible work arrangements. If the company is headquartered in a high-cost city but allows employees to work from anywhere, the business might be able to attract candidates from more affordable regions while offering competitive salaries. On the other hand, if the position requires in-office attendance, it’s important to highlight the benefits of relocating to that city—such as lifestyle factors, community offerings, and career advancement opportunities. 3. Job Market and Industry Opportunities Candidates are increasingly moving to regions where job markets are thriving, particularly in industries like technology, renewable energy, healthcare, and finance. The 2024 Allied Migration Report noted that states with growing job markets are experiencing strong inbound migration. How would classify your region’s overall job market? Candidates want to know that if they were to relocate, and for some reason down the road they leave the organization – what other opportunities exist for them locally. If there are no other reasonable and likely options related to their industry, or expertise - this can pose another hurdle that needs to be addressed. It’s essential to evaluate whether the region offers the kind of industry opportunities that will keep the candidate’s career trajectory on track. 4. Tax Policies and Financial Incentives Tax policies are a key factor influencing relocation decisions in 2024. States with no income tax have seen an increase in inbound migration, with people moving to these states in search of more disposable income. The economic uncertainty and high inflation rates in 2024 have made individuals more conscious of their financial situations, and tax-friendly states are becoming increasingly attractive. Employers looking to relocate candidates should consider the tax implications of moving employees to specific regions. 5. Quality of Life and Lifestyle Considerations Beyond financial factors, candidates are also considering lifestyle factors when deciding where to relocate for work. According to the 2024 Allied Migration Report, many people are moving to regions that offer a better balance of work and life, which includes access to quality healthcare, good schools, recreational activities, and a desirable climate. For employers, this means understanding the lifestyle preferences of potential candidates and emphasizing how the region supports these needs. What’s the Score? So how did your region score? How will it impact how you go to market with the position? Did you adjust the candidate profile to mirror what exists in the local candidate market, or is your region highly desirable to attract the unicorn? As migration patterns evolve, companies that adapt their candidate profiles and expectations to these shifting dynamics will be well-positioned to thrive in an increasingly mobile workforce.
By Christine Kennedy March 12, 2025
Corporate Development Manager About the Company Impel is a family of companies that offer comprehensive flow management solutions in partnership with each other and the best manufacturers in the world. Each of Impels branches represent individual brand cultures and span the West Coast. Impel serves customers in water, wastewater, agriculture, industrial, manufacturing, energy and mining. Impel was founded in 2021 with a vision to build a “one-stop shop” to serve municipal and industrial fluid management needs by acquiring complementary capabilities in contiguous geographies. The platform launched with the first acquisition of PumpTech , a premier distributor of high-quality pumping products and systems serving the Pacific Northwest. Subsequent acquisitions have grown Impel to over ten fluid management companies throughout the US. Impel is backed by Pike Street Capital , a private equity firm based in Seattle, WA. Recently, Pike Street successfully raised capital to fund additional acquisitions. Impel is actively pursuing growth opportunities and remains focused on acquiring and partnering with family-owned and operated companies in the sector. About the Role This is a key position managing the acquisition process within Impel. You will participate in all aspects of the investment process including industry/market research, deal origination, strategy and execution, and relationship building with acquisition target owners, executives, investment bankers and other intermediaries. This is a great role if you’re looking to own the deal process and progress your skillset as a deal professional. This role will give you deep insight into the entire acquisition process while closing multiple deals a year. We are a fairly lean team and believe in cross functional work so come with a growth mindset and you will develop a skillset across each business function; Our team believes in developing our team members. Primary Responsibilities Perform company analysis, including initial screenings, financial modeling and valuation, due diligence, consultation with external advisors, and preparation of materials for internal investment meetings. Responsible for M&A project management processes to include, but not limited to, valuations, letters of intent, due diligence analysis, financial planning, and business case development. Analysis of risks and opportunities of M&A activities, translate this into fact-based and well-reasoned insights on the valuation and structural impact of various acquisitions. Drive market research and strategic fit analysis. Conduct research on prospective sector opportunities and market trends and develop and present data-based opinions to inform decision-making and price transactions. Participate on deal teams to help structure and execute transactions, including coordinating the deal process and legal and transactional documentation. Special projects working directly with C suite, functional leads, and regional vice presidents. Qualifications 2-6 years experience in private equity, consulting, financial DD/QoE, investment banking, accounting, or corporate M&A Exposure to other diligence areas including commercial, operational, market sizing, risk analysis, customer and supplier, agreement review, etc. Excel and PowerPoint expertise Value oriented Strong communication skills Commitment to high professional standards Credentials: CPA preferred Interested in Learning More? 180one is a retained search firm and has been engaged by Impel to manage this search. If interested in learning more about the opportunity, please contact Tom Haley /503.334.1350/ tom@180one.com
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