Reviewed by: Lacey Spear
Remote work, home prices + new Huntsville business news
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The HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology announced this month an addition to its staff in Huntsville, a new human genomics faculty investigator.
Also in this month’s business roundup, an industry expert from the University of North Alabama’s Sanders College of Business & Technology discusses how remote work has changed the business landscape since the pandemic.
Read more to find out how workers are reacting to remote work, how home prices look in North Alabama cities and more:
How remote working has changed the business landscape
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S. in 2020, companies — when they could — were forced to rely on their employees to work from home, with varying results.
Since companies began welcoming employees back to the office, a shift in the prominence of remote work has occurred, with more employers allowing a work-from-home or hybrid work situation.
Dr. Matt Oglesby, a management professor with the University of North Alabama’s Sanders College of Business & Technology, says remote work has truly changed the landscape of the office environment today, both positively and negatively.
“The pandemic saw an epic transformation of the employee workspace. Remote work became commonplace, offering numerous advantages including reduced commute times, increased flexibility, enhanced feelings of autonomy, and improved work-life balance. However, remote work also brought challenges such as decreased social interaction, challenges in collaboration, concerns about career progression, and difficulties in disconnecting from work.”
Dr. Matt Oglesby, UNA Sanders College of Business & Technology
Why remote work is appealing
Oglesby says the option to work remotely is appealing to most employees and to college students poised to join the work force.
“Recent studies indicate that hybrid work is the preferred option for many remote-capable employees. In my discussions with undergraduate students, I have found that very few students prefer fully in-person or fully remote work; instead, the overwhelming preference is for a hybrid model.”
Dr. Matt Oglesby, UNA Sanders College of Business & Technology
The primary appeal of hybrid work is its flexibility, Oglesby said. And that flexibility has been linked to higher engagement, lower burnout and reduced turnover intentions. As well, hybrid arrangements offer valuable opportunities for socialization, collaboration and facetime with organizational leaders.
The challenges of remote work
Despite its appeal to most employees, remote and hybrid work arrangements also come with some difficulties. Oglesby says three main issues arise from hybrid or fully remote work arrangements:
- Remote or hybrid work changes the way managers oversee their employees. Managers must now focus more on productivity over observation, output over work hours, results over activity.
- Collaboration can be difficult when employees are in and out of the office to varying degrees. Team leaders must be deliberate and intentional in designing virtual and in-person interactions to maximize collaborative efforts.
- Organizations must give more thought to culture creation in the hybrid workplace. This necessitates concerted efforts to connect and engage with remote and hybrid workers, ensuring alignment with the organization’s mission, vision, and values.
New faculty investigator at HudsonAlpha
The HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville announced this month that it is expanding its neurological disease research with the addition of a new faculty investigator — Andrew Kodani, PhD.
Kodani specializes in using human genetics to understand the fundamental basis of brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders.
His lab works with clinicians around the country to identify disease-causing genetic mutations in individuals with rare neurological conditions.
As well, his lab studies the cellular and molecular biology of those mutations to understand the developmental mechanisms that are disrupted in the brain in an effort to develop quality-of-life treatments for affected individuals.
“Andy’s innovative approach, combining cellular biology with advanced genetic analysis, holds immense promise for unlocking the mysteries of these complex conditions. His expertise will undoubtedly contribute significantly to advancing our understanding of brain health and disease.”
Dr. Richard M. Myers, HudsonAlpha
Kodani comes to HudsonAlpha from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. He earned his PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of California at Irvine.
A look at unemployment stats and real state in North Alabama
Alabama’s unemployment rate stayed the same last month — a 3.0 percent rate in March, like in February — but was still higher than the 2.3 percent rate reported statewide this time last year.
Unemployment rates in North Alabama metros
| Huntsville | March 2024: 2.6% | Feb. 2024: 2.8% | March 2023: 1.8% |
| Decatur | March 2024: 2.5% | Feb. 2024: 2.7% | March 2023: 1.8% |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals | March 2024: 3.1% | Feb. 2024: 3.5% | March 2023: 2.3% |
Housing numbers in North Alabama metros
The median sales price statewide decreased last month by $2,750 (from March of 2023). According to the Alabama Association of Realtors, Alabama had 4,976 home sales in March. This is a decrease of 2,122 sales compared to March of last year.
Here’s a look at real estate stats in North Alabama
| Huntsville | Median home price: $327,865 | Median days on the market: 63 |
| Madison | Median home price: $408,100 | Median days on the market: 42 |
| Athens | Median home price: $319,900 | Median days on the market: 81 |
| Decatur | Median home price: $225,000 | Median days on the market: 46 |
| Florence | Median home price: $198,000 | Median days on the market: 17 |
| Guntersville | Median home price: $367,450 | Median days on the market: 80 |
Look for our monthly North Alabama business news roundup this time next month, brought to you by the University of North Alabama Sanders College of Business & Technology.
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