In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s become increasingly clear that the world of work has changed forever. Whilst some people have gone back to office-based work, many others have transitioned to remote or hybrid working. Not only is this a physical change, but it’s also a mindset change – particularly for senior employees, who may have felt that being seen in the office was part of the job description, and essential for keeping their employee’s respect.

However, the benefits of remote working are clear: no commute, better work-life balance, a chance to focus that you don’t get in a busy office. There’s no reason why senior managers shouldn’t be able to take advantage of these benefits, especially if the company encourages and accepts a remote working model. In this post, we look at three reasons why remote work is an important aspect of senior management in 2023.

Retaining top talent
With so many people now advocating for working remotely, blocking remote or hybrid applications could mean that companies lose out on top talent, especially as millennials move up the ranks. Remote working also allows you to expand your talent pool and have access to candidates who don’t live geographically near the office.

Most industries are highly competitive, and if you don’t reach a compromise when it comes to remote working, you run the risk of losing your preferred candidate or high-performing employee to another company. You should also consider the pay impact of commuting as well – if you offer the same salary as a remote-first company, but expect your team to be in the office, the employee will have less disposable income. This may then factor into their
decision about which company to choose.

Creating an inclusive environment
Representation is really important in senior management teams. Without a diverse range of leaders, employees won’t have anyone to look up to, or who can understand their needs effectively. However, unfortunately, diverse leaders are still in the minority, and geographical and financial barriers may be part of the issue.

Allowing remote working at a senior level means that candidates who can’t afford long commutes or who have caring responsibilities can still apply for roles, without fear of bias. This is essential for widending representation in senior management.

Setting an example
Part of the stigma around working from home is the fear that not being in the office means that you’re out of sight, out of mind. Senior managers can help remove this barrier by showing that working from home is an accepted and welcomed approach to work.

They may also learn more about how to upskill their remote teams, gaining a deeper understanding than if they had never worked remotely themselves. Working from home requires organisation, motivation and excellent video communication skills – all of which might be a big change from having tasks handed to you in an office. Managers need to understand how to get the best out of their teams in a remote setting, and what training they need to support this.

These three reasons show just how important it is for senior managers to engage in remote working in 2023.