The last few years have completely reshaped the way we think about work. Once upon a time, remote work was a rare perk. Today, it’s become a fundamental part of how organizations operate across industries.

But the big question remains: is virtual work better than in-person work? Or is the answer hiding somewhere in the middle?

The Rise of Remote and Hybrid Work

Before the pandemic, only around 5–7% of employees worked remotely. Now, that number has skyrocketed to 20–30%depending on the industry. Hybrid work has also grown dramatically from about 43% pre-pandemic to nearly 74% of companies now using a hybrid model.

Perhaps most telling of all, 83% of employees say they prefer hybrid work. Even if your role is not remote, chances are you are collaborating with people who are. Communicating effectively with remote colleagues has become a critical skill for every professional.

The Challenges of Virtual vs. In-Person Work

Like anything in business, both approaches have trade-offs. Let’s start with the cons:

Virtual Work Cons

• Isolation and lack of social connection
• Blurred boundaries (harder to disconnect from work)
• Communication breakdowns over email or chat
• Distractions at home
• Limited access to in-office resources

In-Person Work Cons

• Less flexibility in your day
• Long commutes draining time and energy
• Higher costs for employees and companies
• Reduced work-life balance
• Office noise and interruptions

What’s More Important to You?

• Which con do you struggle with the most: isolation, distractions, or commuting?
• Which pro do you value most: flexibility, collaboration, or balance?
• Which environment truly helps you do your best work?

There’s no universal answer. It depends on your role, your industry, and even your personality.

Can We Leverage Both?

Perhaps the real solution isn’t choosing between virtual or in-person work, but combining the best of both worlds. Hybrid work, when done right, provides:

• The flexibility of remote work
• The collaboration of in-person work
• A balance that supports both productivity and well-being

This requires more than policies, it demands new skills. As management expert Peter Drucker once said, “The most important thing about communication is hearing what isn’t said.”

In-person, we’ve spent years learning to read body language and subtle cues. Online, it’s different. As author Erica Dhawan explains in Digital Body Language: “Reading carefully is the new listening. Writing clearly is the new empathy, and a phone or video call is worth a thousand emails.

Key Questions to Consider

When does virtual work empower your team, and when does it create barriers? Is the remote work option creating more efficiency or more challenges?

Once you determine the virtual option to be viable, then how do you establish and maintain connection with the team? What rhythms and culture have you put into place to support it? Alternatively, how can you maintain efficiency if you are mostly in-person? What structure have you established to ensure that everyone is able to maintain the level of productivity needed?

Virtual work offers flexibility, autonomy, and global reach. In-person work delivers collaboration, community, and clearer boundaries. Neither is perfect, but both have undeniable strengths. Whatever you choose, make sure that it is based on your team and your business needs, not just adopting a model because it worked for someone else. 

The future of work is not about choosing one or the other. It’s about learning to embrace the best of each and equipping ourselves with the communication skills, awareness, and adaptability to thrive in both environments.