Remote work efficiency or office camaraderie?

As the conversation around remote work continues to evolve in 2024, companies everywhere are faced with the challenge of finding the right balance between the flexibility of remote work and the camaraderie of in-office environments - masked as efficiencies, innovation, “we are better when together”. At DevHub, we’ve had plenty of discussions on this, and recently, I sat down with our lead web developer, Eric Willis, to dive deep into the issue.

Here’s a look at the highlights from our conversation: (full YouTube here).

Mark Michael: “A couple of months before the pandemic, everyone at DevHub was saying, ‘Eric needs to be in the office three days a week.’ But because of your commute, we settled on a ‘hard’ three days, and even then, something always seemed to come up.”

I opened the conversation with a story from pre-pandemic times. The team was convinced that having Eric in the office would make a huge difference, yet reality had other plans.

Eric Willis: “My argument back then was simple: I just wanted to work from home because the commute could be a drag, especially with young kids and a wife working in healthcare.”

Eric explained how life, particularly his role as a parent and spouse, factored into the decision to work remotely. He highlighted the strain of juggling office life and personal responsibilities, an experience familiar to many working parents.

The Remote Work Shift

The pandemic undeniably shifted our company’s perspective on remote work. As Eric put it, "My productivity soared when I worked from home because I had fewer distractions. But I always made sure not to let the flexibility impact my work."

We both agreed that the key to successful remote work is communication. The pandemic gave us a new honesty about the balance between life and work. Suddenly, working from home wasn’t seen as an escape it became a solution.

Mark Michael: “Do you think you miss some of that in-person culture, though? The friendships, the camaraderie?”

Eric Willis: “It depends on where you are in life. I’ve got two young kids. My days are packed outside of work, so I don’t have the same energy to socialize at the office.”

It’s a common dilemma. At different life stages, people want different things from their work environments. For Eric, remote work provided the flexibility he needed as a father, while for younger employees or interns, the in-office experience might be more valuable.

Finding the Balance

There’s no universal answer, and as a company, we’ve landed on a remote-first approach, though we maintain our office space for those who need it. But here’s the kicker: we’re constantly testing our theory.

Mark Michael: “I’ve always said it’s either all in or all out—either you commit to in-office, or you embrace remote work fully.”

This echoes what we’ve seen with major tech players like Amazon and Microsoft. While Amazon is demanding a full return to office, Microsoft seems to be taking a more gradual approach. The debate continues, and there’s no perfect solution for every company.

Eric Willis: “In the end, it’s about productivity, not presence. My work speaks for itself, whether I’m at home or in the office.”

That resonated with me. At the core of this debate is the question: are we getting the work done? If the answer is yes, the location shouldn’t matter as much. But as I raised to Eric, something still feels missing. There’s a certain rhythm to office life that can’t be replaced by Slack messages.

Wrapping It Up

As we concluded our discussion, it was clear that the debate between remote and in-office work won’t be settled anytime soon. Eric brought up a great point about the communication styles that are required for successful remote work—it’s an adjustment, and it requires trust, honesty, and clear expectations.

For us, the path forward remains clear: listen to our people, make sure they’re happy and productive, and be open to evolving our policies as we grow. Remote work has unlocked access to amazing talent across the country for Dev Hub, but it’s crucial to maintain the human element, even if we’re not physically together.

As we continue navigating this new work landscape, one thing remains certain: communication is key, and staying adaptable is the way forward.

What’s your take on the remote vs. in-office debate? Let’s keep the conversation going.

Remote vs. In-Office: Eric Willis and Mark Michael