Remote working was a dream for many office employees until it came true during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although a recent study conducted by Stanford University found that working from home increases employee productivity by 13%, the hard reality is that everyone’s productivity is different. So, is remote working the best model? Well, it depends on the employee.

Medical Affairs is one of the organizations in which different remote work models can be applied successfully if they are chosen wisely. Here are four remote working models for Medical Affairs.

Hybrid Model

In this model, employees work primarily in the office and 2 – 3 days a week from home.

• PROS: It is ideal for people with personal commitments, such as parents, that need the best work-life balance. This model is attractive for employees and managers. Employees make sure they are keeping up with their tasks by regularly meeting in person. For inexperienced managers, this model allows them to keep control of their team’s productivity. This model works well with all kinds of teams. It is beneficial when other cross-functional teams need people in the office because it allows work in person on call, having at least one team member physically available.
• CONS: It is one of the least flexible models, requires maintaining a full-sized physical office and great scheduling to take advantage of the in-office days.

Remote-Synchronous

Employees have the freedom to work from anywhere, at the office, home, a cafe, or any other place with a stable internet connection. Furthermore, they need to gather simultaneously and interact in “real-time” with a very short notice – or “near-real-time” – with their colleagues.

• PROS: This approach is one of the best ways to begging a remote work culture. Both employees and managers will be able to adapt better to the way their roles are played now.
• CONS: Implementation could be challenging if the team is not strict in their synchronous time. Other meetings and tasks could be reasons to avoid the “real-time” meetings. Moreover, after missing many meetings, the model could face challenges. The best way to manage this model is by having a centralized office where employees can meet as a group when needed.

Fully Remote

This is the most advanced remote work model. Here, the employee can work from anywhere and in any time zone.

• PROS: A great benefit is that there is no need to relocate or consider location when hiring, so the best talent can be chosen regardless of the location. This model will not disrupt work or travel choices, making it very desirable for employees and managers. Another benefit is the significant reduction in operational costs but requires a budget to keep the team connected.
• CONS: Some management styles are not compatible with this model. The best recommendation is to apply this model to mature teams because individuals will have to manage projects to ensure they reach the expected productivity. For this model to succeed, senior leaders should have full buy-in and alignment.

Office First

In this model, the team starts its day at the office and continues in different locations. The employees should schedule team meetings early in the morning and then leave to continue working on their individual tasks from home.

• PROS: This model works when the team members leave the house to visit other places like hospitals or doctors’ offices or when imperative hands-on projects are being implemented. 
• CONS: This model could be challenging when the team does not have to hit the road every day because of the commute time.

In order to work successfully under any of the models, it is vital to guarantee that the team’s work is based on three key elements: clarity in the tasks and goals, alignment of the strategy and bench-marking of the team member skills, and trust between employees and managers.