We at Single Grain Marketing have thrived with a remote-first strategy. This strategy helped us expand globally and work with talented creatives worldwide.
But more companies are pushing employees to return to the office, which has sparked heated debates about productivity, work-life balance, and employee satisfaction.
Our CEO, Eric Siu, took to LinkedIn with another take. He wrote a post explaining that remote jobs diminish a company’s mission and business success is declining.
The response was polarizing; his post generated 600,000 impressions and sparked controversy. While some agreed with his claims, others criticized it, claiming that return to office (RTO) mandates were about power and control.
However, accountability and productivity are the core issues that run much deeper than organizations think.
Key Highlights
- While some professionals may think agencies are implementing RTO mandates to control their staff, Eric Siu argues that business leaders only want to create high-quality products and services. Office work inspires the productivity to boost innovation.
- Office settings are more collaborative and can inspire more ideas and creativity.
- High performers can thrive anywhere, while inexperienced workers can benefit from the connections made in office settings.
- Some employees are more productive and engaged in the office, while others can better balance their work and personal lives in a remote environment.
- Many job seekers prefer a remote work arrangement, making hiring and retaining talent challenging.
- To stay competitive and profitable, agencies should have a flexible work environment, allowing for remote and office work when possible.
The Reality of Office Productivity
One of the most powerful insights Eric found in the LinkedIn discussion was that business leaders do not start companies for power or control. Eric responded to a commenter, saying people start businesses to provide valuable products or services and to work with high-performing teams.
The assumption that forcing employees back into the office is solely about control misses the core reality—businesses thrive on productivity, which often flourishes in collaborative, in-person environments.
Eric also explained that he asked his LA-based staff to start working out of a WeWork office. With this test, he focused on taking a small team (only four people) to see how they would perform in an office versus a remote environment.
Initially hesitant about working in an office location, the team quickly discovered that working there significantly increased productivity. Spontaneous conversations, rapid decision-making, and real-time collaboration led to faster results.
There’s also a counterargument to this. A common misconception is that working longer hours in the office leads to more productivity and a higher work output. However, putting this pressure on employees—exacerbated by RTO mandates—may increase stress.
Forbes reports that job burnout is at 66%. This figure is at an all-time high, and RTO mandates may trigger this issue.
The Pace of Innovation in the Office
Source: Semos Cloud
One key productivity benefit of returning to the office is the speed at which ideas and decisions materialize. A simple decision can take days or weeks to implement in a remote work setting due to scheduled meetings and delayed responses. However, in an office setting, decision-making happens in real-time.
Going back to Eric’s RTO test, he had an idea and shared it instantly with the CTO. Within minutes, they implemented it. In a remote setting, the Single Grain team may have scheduled a call or a meeting and held off on that idea for days or even a week.
Furthermore, spontaneous discussions often lead to unexpected breakthroughs. An idea discussed casually over lunch could evolve into a game-changing business strategy. Remote work lacks these moments of serendipity, slowing down innovation.
The Accountability Factor
Another crucial aspect driving the return to the office is accountability, which Yale University claims is the key to success. While high performers can thrive in remote settings, most employees are not high performers. The lack of structure and mentorship in remote work can significantly stunt career growth for recent graduates or individuals early in their careers.
Several team members admitted they would not have learned essential skills or developed the necessary work ethic to succeed without the office environment. Working alongside experienced professionals fosters skill development, accountability, and a culture of excellence.
What Employees Are Saying
Interestingly, employees have begun recognizing the value of returning to the office. In Eric’s example, his mid-20s team members preferred working in the office, stating they were more productive and engaged in person.
This perspective highlights a critical aspect of the remote work debate — it’s not always about personal comfort but maximizing output and career growth. Employees who desire rapid career advancement may benefit significantly from in-person collaboration and mentorship.
The counterargument to this is remote work offers numerous benefits to employees. These include:
- Ability to balance work and home/personal/family life.
- Less time spent commuting.
- Ability to work when productive.
- Healthier eating habits, such as consuming homecooked meals rather than going to restaurants.
- Opportunity to live in low-cost areas.
- Fewer distractions in the home.
The Economic Reality of Remote Work
The economy is also influencing the return to the office. During the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work decreased business expenses and increased wages. As economic conditions shift, companies must optimize productivity to remain profitable.
While agencies return to the office, this shift hasn’t extended to employees. Due to wage inflation and remote work preferences, businesses still struggle to hire and retain top talent. Companies must balance offering flexibility and ensuring productivity.
Striking the Balance: Remote vs. In-Office Work
While returning to the office offers substantial productivity and accountability benefits, it’s essential to acknowledge that remote work has advantages.
Independent workers with self-discipline often excel in remote environments. However, returning to the office may yield higher productivity for individuals early in their careers and those requiring collaboration. That’s why agencies must stay flexible in their work arrangements.
For many companies, a hybrid model that combines the flexibility of remote work with the productivity of in-office collaboration may offer the best of both worlds. However, leaders must assess the nature of their business and team to determine the ideal work model. For many agencies, this means remote work still prevails.
If this sounds like your agency, outline a remote work policy and communicate these requirements to your staff.
Is This the End of Remote Work? There’s No Easy Answer
Every agency handles remote work differently. Single Grain Marketing has a remote-first strategy, but other agencies may feel more productive in an office setting. RTO mandates aren’t about power and control but adhering to a company’s mission statement. While office work encourages in-person collaboration, RTO mandates aren’t always necessary for high output.
Whether remote or office work is the best move for your business, one fact is clear: productivity and accountability matter most. Company accountability is integral for success, and agencies should have flexible work arrangements for their staff at peak productivity.
Some employees see the value of office work, and others still prefer a remote setting. That’s why the future of the workplace may not be entirely remote or in the office. Instead, it’s a balanced and high-performance environment that drives results.
Are you still struggling to balance the fine line between a flexible working arrangement and fostering innovation? Eric Siu is the CEO of Single Grain Marketing, hosts the Marketing School podcast with Neil Patel, and created Leveling Up. Eric is also a Fortune 500 consultant and advisor to many firms. Let Eric join you on your entrepreneurial journey and unlock your hidden potential.
If you’re ready to level up your marketing with AI workflows, Single Grain’s marketing experts can help!👇
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FAQs About Remote Work vs. In-Person
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Why is returning to the office the new trend?
Agencies are pushing RTO for financial and strategic reasons, but every business has reasons for returning to the office. Here are common explanations to why some companies are implementing RTO:
- Companies want to justify real estate and rental costs
- Some professionals believe they’re more productive at the office
- Companies want a more collaborative environment
- Employee loyalty is declining
- Remote work can result in an innovation decline
- Less work culture
- Pressure from industry leaders
- Reduce payroll costs
- Managing workers is easier in person
It’s important to note that many of these reasons are biased and primarily based on opinions. Data shows that office setting doesn’t influence productivity as much as employee morale.
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What is the purpose of remote work?
Agencies are pushing RTO for financial and strategic reasons, but every business has reasons for returning to the office. Here are common explanations to why some companies are implementing RTO:
- Companies want to justify real estate and rental costs
- Some professionals believe they’re more productive at the office
- Companies want a more collaborative environment
- Employee loyalty is declining
- Remote work can result in an innovation decline
- Less work culture
- Pressure from industry leaders
- Reduce payroll costs
- Managing workers is easier in person
It’s important to note that many of these reasons are biased and primarily based on opinions. Data shows that office setting doesn’t influence productivity as much as employee morale.
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What is the purpose of remote work?
The most basic explanation for remote work is to do your job from the comfort of your home. However, why remote work may benefit some agencies and tarnish others is debatable.
The argument for remote work is that physical presence isn’t always necessary to stay productive and engaged in a professional setting. Plus, remote work boosts job satisfaction. It gives employees more control over their time and work and can better manage their professional and personal lives.
Companies have also benefited from remote work. For example, agencies can attract a larger talent pool. This makes a company diverse, such as attracting global talent and hiring disabled workers, parents with young children, and employees in rural areas.
Since businesses don’t pay overhead costs, like rent and equipment, remote work can save a lot of money and allow them to use those funds toward another part of their company. Employees and management also don’t need to worry about commuting.
Agencies struggle to balance the two in various ways. Remote work requires trust-based management, which can be difficult for some executives who need constant oversight. Employees may also feel burnt out in an office setting, while remote work can blur the line between professional and personal time.
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When is returning to the office not a good idea?
While RTO can benefit some agencies, others may experience employee disengagement and lower productivity. Businesses will also have to pay more overhead expenses, such as office space rental fees.
Here are signs that office work isn’t necessary for your company:
- Your team is more productive working remotely
- RTO is becoming a financial burden
- Your employees strongly oppose it
- Working in an office isn’t necessary
- A remote-first strategy makes you more competitive
- Remote work has made you more innovative
- RTO is disrupting work-life balance
- Your company shifted its business model to fit a remote-first framework
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Why do employees want to work remotely?
48% of job seekers want to find a hybrid role, while 26% prefer a fully remote environment. Why do employees prefer remote (or hybrid) work? There are a few key reasons that come up:
- Better work-life balance
- Cost savings
- No commuting
- Higher productivity (for some)
- More comfortable
- Work for a top company without moving (or the ability to relocate to any city)
- Avoiding office politics
- Improved mental health
- More autonomy and flexibility
- Ability to travel
- Better for the environment
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Which jobs can be done remotely?
While all these jobs can be performed in-office, they can also be done remotely. These jobs include:
- Software development
- Graphic design
- Content writing
- Customer support
- Social media management
- Data analysis
- Accounting
- Project management
If you were unable to find the answer you’ve been looking for, do not hesitate to get in touch and ask us directly.
