AutomatedLab - A Quickstart for Deploying SQL S erver Labs on Windows (2023-08-04)

Flexible Work Policies are Preferred

The great post-pandemic, post-Great-Resignation, hybrid/remote/in-the-office work debate continues. It seems almost every week I see more stories that report on, hype, attempt to prove, or otherwise stoke emotions about whether the future of work for many people is more likely in any of these three situations. One company mandates everyone back in the office, another goes completely remote, and it seems many can't decide and have some sort of hybrid approach.

Your boss might have strong opinions on one of these situations, which may or may not align with your organization. I see CEOs wanting one thing and individual managers sometimes wanting another. As much as I like remote working, and I've been based out of my home for over two decades, I also like seeing people and I am regularly traveling to the various Redgate offices (along with Grant and Ryan).

If you want to try and sway your boss to let you work more flexibly, which is likely remote or hybrid, perhaps this article will help. There's research from at least one company showing that having a flexible policy has helped a number of companies hire faster in 2023. While this isn't in any particular geography, industry, or role, it does show that finding employees seems to be faster with flexible policies. That makes sense as the more remote you are, the more people in your pool of potential candidates.

Of course, this doesn't say if these people stick around, or if they're qualified. Certainly many of us in the tech industry see plenty of candidates (or even coworkers) that don't seem qualified for many, or any, roles. Hiring faster isn't always good if there aren't good candidates, but having more choices of who to hire does give you an edge in finding qualified candidates.

It also gives you more work to do in separating those you'd consider hiring from those you wouldn't. The flip side as well is that if you are flexible, then perhaps you can convince some already employed, talented workers to come to your organization.

To be fair, many of us with these options are very lucky. There are lots of jobs where this isn't a debate and people must show up to work every day. Cooks, taxi drivers, retail workers, and many, many more. This is a luxury issue, but it is still an issue. My view is that lots of knowledge work can be done remotely. However, I also think that teams gain something when they bond and get to know each other in person. Day-to-day work is great remote, but brainstorming and creativity work better sometimes when people are in the same room. Not always, but there are times it is better.

So let your boss know that they might be able to better fill their open positions if they're flexible. Maybe you'll convince them to be more flexible with you as well.

Steve Jones - SSC Editor

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