The idea of working from the office from 9-5, all through the week, might not seem relevant anymore.
The pandemic has changed the way we work – for good.
The president of Global Workplace Analytics estimated that by 2025, about 70% of the workforce will work remotely at least 5 days a month.
Remote Work Does Offer Quite a Few Benefits!
It offers flexibility and reduces the need for employees to commute.
Mercer, an HR and workplace benefits consulting firm, recently surveyed 800 employers to gauge the impact of remote work on the workplace.
It is interesting to note that 94% of the employers surveyed said their company productivity was actually the same or higher than it was before the pandemic.
Additionally, office spaces are expensive to manage. Leasing office space in a central downtown location is a significant overhead and there are additional costs associated with managing the space.
With remote work, businesses have the option to re-evaluate their requirements and reimagine their workspaces.
Though, Remote Work Does Have its Own Challenges.
While working from home is a positive change for many, some employees can find it difficult to balance work and personal life when the lines between the two have been blurred out.
Additionally, you can’t just walk by a colleague’s desk or step away from your desk for a coffee and quick conversation.
This is why companies have to put more effort into amplifying engagement virtually and making sure employees don’t feel isolated.
Another big concern is the need for tighter security.
According to a Cisco survey, 84% of the respondents in Canada reported that cybersecurity has become more important today than before the pandemic.
As employees continue to work remotely, it is critical for organizations to put protocols in place and leverage secure technologies to tackle any potential challenges.
Microsoft, for instance, helps companies stay on top of security, privacy, and compliance as they ‘go remote’. The Microsoft Trust Center outlines all of the security & compliance services provided by Microsoft.
The Hybrid Model
While remote work will continue to grow, it can’t entirely replace workspaces. For many employees, working out of the office is needed as they have to operate machines, have to collaborate with peers, or interact with customers.
Once vaccination efforts ramp up, we feel that we will see more ‘hybrid models’ being put into place – where employees would have the flexibility to work from the office or their homes.
In the future, while employees will have the option to work remotely, they will also have the option to go into the office for in-person meetings such as brainstorming sessions and team-building exercises.
To prepare for this change, companies have to:
- Leverage technologies that support collaboration, communication, and productivity.
- Put policies, practices, and processes in place to make this new system work seamlessly.
- Find ways to preserve and enhance their culture.
At SHEA Global, we partner with you to achieve end-to-end transformation and create hybrid work models that are secure and effective. Reach out to learn more today.