In this season last year, the UK was plunged into a nationwide lockdown. Life as we knew it came to a dramatic halt and the once rowdy streets of the country emptied. We have struggled and spent the past year diving in and out of new rules, limitations and bans. The 6-hour rule, the XNUMXpm curfew and the substantial meal rule are policies that only Brits who have lived through the pandemic will understand. A year later, and with many companies planning their return to the office, it's time to reflect on the pros, cons, and ugliness of working from home and use the lessons companies have learned to guide their future resolutions. About the Author Marcus Thornley is the director of Totem
Positive change due to remote work
Even before the pandemic, being able to work from home was seen as a “perk” that many companies shrieked about. Employees have found the joys of working from home, such as having time to work out at lunchtime, while companies have seen the benefits of the change as well. First, remote work allows a company to hire a more diverse workforce. Work-from-home policies mean more people with disabilities can apply and apply for jobs they may not have considered due to accessibility restrictions. As such, remote work policies have the potential to broaden companies' talent pools and increase diversity in the workplace. Aside from increasing diversity in the workplace, a recent report found that employees are more productive when they work remotely, while another found that people have a better work-life balance through work. from home. Since commuting is a thing of the past, people can fit their personal activities into the day. It's no secret that a happier team will play a role in a company's success. The acceptance of flexible work policies has also been a step in the right direction, with the term "hybrid work" becoming more widely used. Big banks like HSBC and Deutsche Bank have announced plans to reduce their office space as they expect their team to spend just 2-3 days a week in the office. Little by little, more companies are moving towards a flexible way of working: would this have happened if the pandemic had not forced us to work from home? There have been many advantages to working remotely, such as greater flexibility, productivity, and diversity. However, working from home has also had negative effects.
Be careful what you wish for
Many companies view remote work as "unsustainable." Goldman Sachs boss David Solomon has publicly dismissed it as the "new normal" if a company wants to promote a culture of renewal and collaboration. Remote working has also had a suffocating impact on people's mental health, with many reporting feelings of loneliness and an increased workload when working from home. A recent report published in The Telegraph found that people have been working, on average, 2 extra hours a day since the start of the pandemic. Having your desk and work set up XNUMX seconds from anywhere in your home means it's easier to stay in work mode, leading to growing fears of employee burnout and the inability for people to keep up. The remote work has also highlighted the problems of cooperation between teams. Our research found that cooperation is most effective when teams are in shared spaces, that is, an office. As such, working from home can have a stifling impact on a team's cooperation and inventiveness. Companies need to think freshly to overcome these challenges, as a hidden way of working seems likely to survive.
Listen and find a balance
While there is no doubt that the office has a worthwhile purpose, HR and business leaders must use this time to rewrite and reinvent the purpose of the office. A one-size-fits-all approach isn't going to work for most companies, and companies shouldn't expect a full return to the office or a permanent work-from-home model to keep employees happy. As such, it's essential that companies take steps to understand what kind of hybrid work model is going to work best for their employees. Without this understanding, companies could put the ethics of their employees at risk. Using technology tools to research and communicate with your employees can help provide insight and insight into how people want to work, which is essential for business leaders to learn and use this information to create their comeback strategy. to the office. As the streets of the UK come alive, HR managers and policy makers have had the rare opportunity to reflect on what the past year has taught them about their business. A lot of good things have come out, like more diversity in the workplace; however, challenges have also arisen. As such, the workforce insights that technology can provide will be invaluable in helping business leaders hear from their employees and drive back-to-office resolutions in the future.