Despite a worker-led labour market, employers are winning the remote-working battle 

The past 12 months have revealed a subtle shift in power which may have large consequences on the future of remote work

While there have been strong pushes towards further gender equality in the workforce with an increased emphasis on gender pay gaps and female leadership positions, an end to flexible working could carry the unintended consequences of putting additional pressure on mothers and further forcing women out of the workplace that only in the last few years has become increasingly more accessible.

It's been four years since the pandemic propelled workers into a new reality, with the closure of offices forcing both employers and employees to navigate a new environment centred around flexible and remote work. 

Leading the way on a European level, Ireland’s workforce has transitioned to hybrid working at a greater rate than any other country in the EU, with figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) reporting that the number of people working mainly from home increased by 173% between 2016 and 2022, from 94,955 workers to 259,467.

In addition, latest CSO Census findings also show that nearly a third of Ireland's workforce, or around 750,000 employees, worked from home at least one day a week.

Such a significant uptake has led to a new normal for Irish workers, with remote and hybrid options not just a luxury but an expectation amongst the majority of new job seekers, with many workers happy to forgo other forms of compensation such as salary increases or additional holidays once flexible work options are afforded. 

"The shift to remote work made many people reconsider their priorities," says Trayc Keevans, Global Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Director at Morgan McKinley Ireland.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Ms Keevans said more value has been placed on the key by-products of hybrid working such as reduced commute times and the ability to live in lower-cost locations. 

This sentiment is echoed by Elma Connolly, Hub Manager at the Ludgate, a co-working space located in Skibbereen which is heading for its busiest year so far.

"The vast majority of our members are either sole entrepreneurs or remote workers," says Ms Connolly. 

We have seen a lot of new people in recent times, with more and more remote workers buying and settling down in West Cork compared to before the pandemic.

Ms Connolly says the Ludgate is already preparing for the summer months which is its busiest time of the year as holidaymakers and second home-owners relocate to West Cork throughout June, July and August.

However, several employers have begun to increasingly push back on flexible and remote work, with Ms Keevans noting a stark shift in attitudes in the past 12 months. 

"This time last year, I would have said two days in the office and three days from home was the standard, and people were getting increasingly comfortable with that.

"Now, the dial has moved back a lot further. Currently, we are seeing three or four days in the office becoming the norm with a major push by employers to have people back in the office."

Collaboration and learning have been largely cited by employers in their push towards office working, says Ms Keevans, particularly when it comes to training new hires.

"Firms, especially those within professional services, are increasingly keen on new intakes working in the office. These firms rely heavily on fresh employees to learn from more senior staff and that exposure is necessary for their overall training."

"We have heard several times now that inducting new hires is becoming more and more difficult without these in-person interactions."

This has also led to a rise in "anchor days", whereby before, employees could choose which days most suited them to work from the office, whereas now, these days are being decided by employers on behalf of workers to further enable collaboration and learning amongst staff. 

"Before, many employees would choose Monday and Friday as their days from home which raised productivity concerns amongst employers. Nowadays, it's becoming increasingly common that workers are obliged to come in on certain days of the week."

However, demands like these amongst certain employers have been met with pushback from employees, with many of those accustomed to flexible working conditions unwilling to forgo their new-found benefits.

A recent survey from EmployFlex indicated that all things being equal, 92% of employees would move from their current role for more flexibility in another position.

However, despite the clear demand from employees, several employers including Facebook and Instagram owner Meta recently announced it would be reversing its working-from-home policy despite telling staff it would allow permanent remote working post-pandemic.

In another example, Zoom, a staple throughout multiple covid lockdowns also told employees living near a Zoom office that they would be required to be onsite two days a week to collaborate with fellow employees.

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According to recent data compiled by LinkedIn, there was a 37% drop in the share of remote jobs among all listings in Ireland compared to the previous year.

Across the country, Ms Keevans says the largest advocates of a return to the office are US-owned firms, with more leniency offered by smaller firms and Irish-owned businesses. 

However, Ms Keevans notes that there has been a subtle shift in power in favour of employers, with what was initially demanded by just a handful of firms now becoming the norm across multiple industries. 

The movement has also been helped by a growing acceptance among employees, however, Ms Keevans says the extent of employer demands will determine its resistance.

Ms Keevans warns:

If employers start pushing for five full days in the office and for an end to flexibility, this will lead to conflict. 

"While the labour market is still largely employee-led from a skills perspective, there is no doubt employers are happy to take a stronger stance on the issue with less leniency overall being afforded."

Looking forward, Ms Keevans says employers will need to achieve a delicate balance to not isolate workers but notes that employer demand for in-office days will not plateau anytime soon, which may bring with it unintended consequences.

"For a lot of people, especially women, flexible working hours enable family life. If a parent can drop her children to school and head into the office afterwards, there's an opportunity for the best of both worlds," says Ms Keevans. 

Already, women in leadership positions are leaving at an unprecedented rate. According to a report from Lean In and McKinsey & Co, the reasons are due to companies failing to satisfy the expectations of female leaders. These expectations include a workplace that prioritises flexibility, employee well-being, diversity, equity and inclusion.

While there have been strong pushes towards further gender equality in the workforce with an increased emphasis on gender pay gaps and female leadership positions, an end to flexible working could carry the unintended consequences of putting additional pressure on mothers and further forcing women out of the workplace that only in the last few years has become increasingly more accessible.