As we near the final quarter of 2023, we continue to head away from the remote work shift that occurred during the pandemic. Return to office is now top of mind for both employees and employers.

Currently, employers are struggling to make the transition from remote employees to return to the office.

However, the J.M. Smucker Company has had success by instituting a schedule it had never used before: core weeks. During 22 specific weeks each year, employees are required to come into the office in Ohio, but they have the option to work remotely the rest of the year. Their employees are in office about 25% of the time (about six days/month), and say this approach allows for both in-person collaboration and scheduling flexibility.

Office usage in many cities is at less than half of pre-pandemic levels even today, and so the acceptance of core weeks by employers and employees can be a win.

This ‘core week’ model may not be the right fit for all companies, but it may be a good compromise and working structure for those that have been considering a hybrid work model.

Companies can also reap benefits from this new flexible work model. They have increased flexibility when recruiting and now have the option to tap in to talent pools outside of their state.

No matter which decision fits best for your company, whether it be 100% in office or a hybrid, it doesn’t hurt to have more information and see what has been working well for others.