Published on December 9, 2024
# Hybrid vs. Fully Remote Work: What’s Best for You?
The rise of remote work has changed how we approach our careers. Many companies now offer hybrid or fully remote roles, but which setup works best for you? Let’s explore key factors to help you make an informed decision.
# Understanding the Difference
# Hybrid Work
A hybrid role is one where you work some of the time from home and the rest of the time from one of the company's offices. The type of hybrid flexibility may vary depending on the company and type of role. Some hybrid roles let staff work from home 4 days a week and 1 day from the office, but more commonly it is 2-3 days in the office and the remainder at home.
Some allow one day a week working from home, but many consider this not truly hybrid due to still spending 80% of the working week in the office.
The days may vary as well. Some companies are flexible on which days you work from home. Others require you to be in the office on the same 2 days each week so you can collaborate for team meetings and other team building exercises. Some will be on a rolling rota which rotates which days you work from home week-on-week.
A fully remote role is one that is working from home 100% of the time and never being required to attend the office. You may still attend group meetings and team catch ups on a monthly basis at a centralised location, but you generally wouldn't be expected to complete any of your day-to-day work at these events.
Fully remote can also mean working from a location such as a different country, a coffee shop or even a co-working space nearer to your home some of the time. Some people who work from home really don't want to actually work from their home.
- Fixed days: Same office days weekly for team collaboration.
- Rotating schedule: Alternating days for a flexible setup.
# Fully Remote Work
Fully remote roles mean working from home—or anywhere—full-time. This could be from a home office, co-working space, or even abroad. Occasional in-person team meetups may be required but aren’t part of daily work.
# Productivity vs. Procrastination
One of the main topics that arises from discussions around working fully remote vs hybrid is how productive you actually are as an employee.
Only you can really answer this question, and be honest with yourself on whether you are able to get more work done from the comfort of your own home without distraction, or whether being surrounded by the buzz of people working, sharing ideas and chatting about their weekends is actually giving you the social stamina to be more productive in an office based environment.
A good way to monitor this, if possible, is to do one week in hybrid mode and another fully remote and keep track of all the times you were not only super productive and got work done, but also the times you drifted off into the Reddit doomscroll.
If you find you are doing more procrastinating than productive work in one scenario than the other, this may give you a good indication of which form of working to focus on for the long term.
- Hybrid Pros: Office buzz can boost creativity and motivation. Face-to-face collaboration is often more effective.
- Remote Pros: Fewer interruptions and no commute can lead to deep focus.
Try alternating weeks between the two setups and track productivity to see what works best.
# Balancing Life Commitments
As we get older we tend to pick up more 'baggage'. We get married, we have kids, we have various life admin to deal with around work. A lot of these appointments tend to only be available during the working week and so in a full time office role, you tend to have to request annual leave to attend your appointment, effectively sacrificing one of your holiday days.
With hybrid work and fully remote work, you can usually work around these appointments and other commitments, simply adjusting your hours to make up the time earlier or later that day or throughout the remainder of the week.
However with some hybrid work setups, you may still be required to attend the office on set days which may conflict with existing appointments or commitments you have in place. For example a school 'parents' evening' is every month and always on a Thursday at 5pm. That's a very common day to be in the office in a hybrid role, and it may be impossible for you to make it back home after work to attend, meaning you miss out on vital updates about your child's school life and development.
These various commitments add up, and depending on the flexibility you have around working hybrid, you may find it's just as much of a hassle as it would be if you were working full time in the office. A fully remote role may alleviate this but you should weigh up how it would affect you personally as a family.
- Appointments: Avoid using leave for personal commitments.
- Family Needs: Be available for school events or caregiving duties.
Consider how flexible your employer is about hybrid in-office days. A rigid schedule can limit this benefit.
# Health & Accessibility Considerations
There may be health reasons that mean a fully remote role is much more suitable for you.
This could be for a number of factors. It could be that you need to attend regular appointments at your doctors which is local to where you live, or you may suffer from a physical impairment that makes it a challenge to commute to and from the company offices.
Some hybrid roles will accommodate for your situation as best they can, but you should research whether or not being based in an office is suitable for you depending on your health condition, and the equipment or setup you may require to complete your work to the best of your ability and remain a productive employee.
It's important to look at the accessibility of the location you would need to commute to. Does the building have suitable lifts and access to get to your desk? Does the journey have suitable accessibility to get from your home to the office, such as step-free access onto the train at your local station? You wouldn't want to accept a role and then find it's highly difficult and stressful to get to, so it's worth doing this research beforehand.
At the same time it's important to find balance. Social interaction with colleagues is key to positive mental health and if you focus on staying put in the perfect working environment at home, you may find it has a negative impact on how you are feeling.
- Remote Benefits: Easier access to healthcare appointments and a personalized work environment.
- Hybrid Adjustments: Some employers accommodate health needs, but it depends on the workplace setup and accessibility.
Don’t forget mental health—social interaction is essential, even for remote workers.
# Not Everyone Has the Choice
It’s worth remembering that remote work isn’t possible for everyone. Jobs in hospitality, retail, and healthcare often require physical presence. Hybrid roles, while not fully remote, still offer flexibility many employees don’t have.
# Finding the Right Fit
Choosing between hybrid and fully remote work depends on your productivity style, personal commitments, and health needs. Consider what matters most and how each setup aligns with your career goals.