Is mind alteration yet another symptom of COVID-19? Probably not, but nonetheless it appears to be changing the perspectives and norms of how business can and should be run today.
Prior to the pandemic, many companies would have never considered allowing as many employees and job functions to work from home as they do now. The pandemic has forced companies to rethink and in some cases reinvent job functions to make them viable for remote work.
For companies that have figured out (and continue to figure out) how to successfully transition their employees and job functions to remote work, another mind shift has developed. With employees successfully working from home, what do they do with all the office space they used to occupy?
It’s hard to imagine what was once a large conference room is now a laptop sitting on a kitchen countertop. Although working from home has initially been a strange transition for many, it has now proven to be not only possible – but practical. Downsizing personnel was the first step for most companies, but what about downsizing office space? Many companies have begun looking into significantly reducing their office space which in turn reduces their fixed overhead costs including utilities, furniture and other office expenses. Good, reliable and skilled employees can be difficult to find and retain so smart employers should do whatever they can to keep them.
Companies are not the only ones that have undergone these mind alterations. Remote working employees have had to adjust their work habits, processes and work environments in makeshift home offices that often serve as their bedrooms or dining tables. For employees with young children, these same spaces may also serve as their children’s classrooms!
Although working from home has been met with a laundry list of challenges, many employees have started to figure out how to make their new home offices work and even become more efficient. This does not mean that remote work is for everyone or every position, but many of those that do work remotely feel the pros easily outweigh the cons and would even take a pay cut to continue working remotely.
Among the top benefits listed are the extremely short commute times from their bedrooms to their home office. The average round trip commute time in 2019 was almost one hour. This means remote workers have been given back an average of five hours per week to spend with family, house chores or to catch up on work. This also comes with savings in gas, wear and tear, insurance and reduced environmental impact.
Another benefit many remote employees have experienced is reconnecting with their families. Think about it, prior to COVID-19, we probably spent more time with coworkers than our families. Now that both parents and children are home, we are allowed more interaction with each other on a regular basis and throughout the day. Some of our candidates have confessed that although they initially struggled with the transition to working remotely, it has actually made them realize how much quality, family-time they’ve been missing out on.
This year has pushed just about everyone out of their comfort zone. As a result, it has challenged us to reconsider where we’re investing our time and money. As employers, companies need to rethink their remote working strategies and policies and office space requirements while protecting their greatest asset – their employees. As employees, remote capable staff need to commit themselves to providing the same or better level of service to their employers and cherish the time they’ve been given to spend with their families.
Note: We recognize that there are many organizations and employees whose positions cannot be performed remotely like grocery restockers, delivery drivers, medical workers, etc. We appreciate all frontline workers that help keep things moving and fight for our futures during these difficult times. Thank you for your commitment and service!