Offices Are Reopening. We asked N.J. Executives Whether they are Asking Employees to Return to the Workplace In-Person.

The Edge for March 2022

Pandemic restrictions are easing. So we asked New Jersey business executives whether they expect employees to return to the office five days a week, or has working from home during the shutdown demonstrated that a hybrid – or even a full-time remote work situation – is the best way to move forward. Here is what they said:

We are Offering a Hybrid Work Schedule, as Long as it Works

We’re offering a flexible work arrangement more permanently, provided performance remains satisfactory. A hybrid schedule is a privilege. After multiple roundtables, with over a third of our population, it was unanimous: Everyone loves the flexibility of two days remote and three days in the office. Leaders can create schedules that work best for their departments. Zoom-enabled conference rooms and Microsoft Teams offer easy access for everyone, regardless of location. It’s the new norm. Employees value leveraging connections while at the office, but appreciate the uninterrupted time when working remotely. If productivity and performance aren’t impacted, we will function this way for the foreseeable future.

– Brydget Falk-Drigan, Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, Peapack-Gladstone Bank

Flexibility is Critical

When we sent our team to work remotely in March 2020, we knew flexibility would be critical to the firm’s success. Over the past two years, we have invested in technology that allows the team to provide excellent client service, whether from within the office or remotely. The firm supplied laptops for all employees and replaced desktop phones with ‘Zoom phones.’ We have moved to a hybrid work environment and we are in the process of developing our new state-of-the-art headquarters with an eye toward continuing the hybrid schedule. We are requesting two days in office per week for all team members. We believe that many other professional services firms and other organizations will move in the same direction.

– Patricia K. Costello, Managing Member, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC (CSG Law)

There are Benefits to Being in the Office Together

While we’ve proven that we can be productive working from home, there are benefits to the team being together. We enjoy the interactions, collaboration and impromptu conversations. Survey feedback from employees and discussions with business line leaders across our organization validated that flexibility is also important. To provide flexibility while also maintaining the strong culture we’ve established, we chose the hybrid model for our initial re-entry plans on April 4. The hybrid model – three days in office and two at home – pertains primarily to branch office and call center dispatch staff. Our fleet drivers have manned our roadside assistance vehicles throughout the pandemic.

– David L. Hughes, President, New Jersey Region, AAA Northeast

We Are Designating Days when Team Members Must Come In

HF Planners helps companies develop workplace strategies on how to re-enter the office space. We’re discovering that no two companies’ approaches are the same. It’s evident that employees have successfully worked from home, and this new skill set should be recognized. Most companies are offering a hybrid approach that provides flexibility for employees. Individual departments should identify key days that their teams need to be in the office for in-person collaboration. At our offices, we are implementing a modified hybrid model. Designers who need to collaborate and require immediate feedback, come into the office daily. Administrative staff members have a more flexible schedule with set days in the office.

– Caroline Shelly, Principal and Owner, HF Planners

The Happier Our Employees, the More Productive

GoMo Health values work-life balance. The happier our employees, the more productive. We offer a flexible schedule that allows employees time in the office to connect with colleagues and time at home for life balance. When working from home, we rely on video calls to get as close to an in-person experience as possible. We appreciate the impactful work our team is doing in this model, and our goal is to continue operating this way. Our teams work together to figure out the exact scheduling. It typically looks like two or three days in office and the remainder at home. We do have employees across the country and world, so the policy is customized based on what works best for each employee and their team.

– Lawrence H. Krampf, Chief Revenue Officer, GoMo Health

Communication Does Not Seem Organic When Working Offsite

Our team worked remotely during the initial lock down period. But our office has been fully staffed since May 2020. It allows for projects to be kept on task, as well as for steady communication, which did not seem organic when working offsite. We do realize there is an ability to occasionally work from home during special circumstances.

– Lori A. Pepenella, CEO, Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce

Remote Work Works

At AmeriHealth New Jersey we are taking a measured, thoughtful approach to reopening our offices beyond the essential personnel who have been on-site since the beginning of the pandemic. The last 24 months have demonstrated that remote working is effective. As we prepare for workplace re-entry, we are developing a hybrid model that will blend in-person and remote working. This new model positions our company for continued success while also prioritizing our unique and collaborative corporate culture.

– Mike Munoz, Market President, AmeriHealth New Jersey

Hybrid for Now, but Things May Change

We will do a mix of work from home and in the office. There are clear synergies that come from being in the office. But working from home allows for (early morning) preparation for the market day and time to absorb earnings news and macroeconomic events. Days at home also allow for a good work-family balance. So we'll split it, with two or three days working from home. Who knows how things may change, but my guess is the hybrid schedule will be permanent.

– Tom Byrne, Managing Partner, Byrne Asset Management LLC

Some Workplaces Aren’t Made for Remote Work

Because we are an institution of higher education that meets students daily, the vast majority of our employees are available (in person) to our students. We make more use of zoom meetings to limit travel and create efficiencies, and we are using a remote working policy for a few employees in certain cases.

– Sue Henderson, President, New Jersey City University