The Challenges of Remote Work
REWORK
Is There a Hybrid Model for Remote Work?
The majority of people at 37 signals have always been remote, essentially, for the past 20 years. "I think when you have 75% in-house and then 25% remote, that's really hard," she says. For us, a huge advantage of remote has been the power to hire the best wherever they are.
Remote work has become increasingly popular in recent years, offering several benefits, such as increased flexibility and the ability to work anywhere globally.
However, there are some challenges that come with remote work and it’s certainly not for all companies.
In this episode of the Rework podcast, 37signals co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson discuss these issues and how they've overcome them from their book, Rework.
They share insights on how to work together across different time zones, ways to stay connected while working remotely, and the benefits of remote work for both employees and employers.
Listen in to find out what remote work has to offer, along with its challenges and benefits, from two seasoned advocates.
Show Notes:
[00:36] - 37signals is as remote as they've ever been.
[01:02] - The challenges of time zones in a remote work environment, especially when training or mentoring new employees.
[02:22] - Jason discusses the importance of scheduling and pairing employees with compatible time zones, depending on their experience level.
[03:57] - David shares why from his perspective, four hours is the ideal amount of time zone overlap for remote collaboration.
[05:32] - Why it's essential to be strategic about where you hire from, given the challenges of time zone differences.
[06:13] - While asynchronous communication is useful, synchronous communication is needed to crack through some tasks.
[07:52] - How 37signals twice-yearly meetups are more of an investment than an expense, unlike the cost of an office.
[08:35] - Humans are not built for fully remote work—why meeting in person is necessary to reduce loneliness, recharge batteries, and create better team relationships.
[10:57] - Why simply installing communication tools like Slack and Zoom without changing work practices offers the worst of both worlds and results in a subpar remote work experience.
[12:20] - The potential pitfalls and tradeoffs of the new hybrid work model.
[14:10] - The benefits of being able to hire the best talent from anywhere in the world and allowing employees the freedom to live and work in multiple locations.
[16:22] - Jason discusses why some companies are requiring employees to return to the office after the pandemic and both advantages and disadvantages.
[17:46] - David shares why either way is OK—some companies thrive with having an in-person culture catering to the needs of employees who prefer working in an office, while there should be more remote work options for those who prefer working from home.
[20:38] - Busting the myth that remote work is impossible, creating more options for people, but the future of work remains to be seen.
[22:39] - Leave a voicemail at 708-628-7850 or email us with questions for David and Jason about remote work or running a business for a chance to have it answered on an upcoming episode.
Links and Resources:
Rework
Do you have a question for Jason and David? Leave us a voicemail at 708-628-7850 or email us
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