Trends Shaping the Future of "Work"

Status Quo Is Gone Forever

I’m passing along this revised article because I think it is a message that employers need to read! Writer Kate Lee has researched this “Going to Work” topic and writes a great report about people and their jobs.  One of the biggest changes going forward is where people work. This statistic shocked me: the number of employees permanently working remotely globally is set to double in 2021.

And, this study is very surprising: The largest remote work experiment indicates that remote work can increase productivity (15%-40%), reduce absenteeism (40%), decrease turnover (10%-15%), reduce real estate and resource usage expenditures (+20%), increase engagement, and increase performance. Given this, it is not surprising that 83% of employers say the shift to remote work has been a success and that less than one in five executives say they want to return to the office as it was pre-pandemic.

The stats are clear … employees don’t want to return to the office location standard prior to 2020 either.    One study found that 61% of employees want to work from home indefinitely even after the pandemic is over. Twenty-nine percent of respondents said they will quit their job if they aren’t allowed to continue to work remotely, and 62% either agreed/strongly agreed that in the future they will prefer employers offering remote work.” Research by OWL Labs and Global Analytics Workplace found similar results: 80% full-time employees expect to work from home at least three times per week and half of the respondents say that if their employer won’t allow remote work they would look elsewhere. Also, a revelation.

While pre-virus location was a differentiator for organizations, post-pandemic, location will no longer play the same role. As the research shows, post-pandemic, employees give preference to organizations that offer remote and hybrid work – and will leave organizations that do not offer these models.

The virus has exponentially accelerated trends including online learning, virtual health, virtualization of the workforce, and e-commerce. In some cases, changes that were projected to take years, occurred in months, weeks, and even days. At the same time, uncertainty is widespread as are the economy, mental and physical health, and logistical disasters.

Leading Health and HR experts concur that as much as we would like to think of 2020 as an anomaly, it probably isn’t. The consensus is that post-virus change will be much more rapid, continual, and ubiquitous. They see change being defined by effective leadership - where effective bosses will be wise and discerning in navigating change while also being humane. They will become anti-heroic leaders and show authenticity, humility, and vulnerability that drives shared learning and productivity and lead to a better future for all.

A Managing Director at a Fortune 100 company shared that leading teams in this environment forces one to be more human. Closer relationships will evolve because people/workers know each other on a very different level now. This experience is now normal.

The chief of research for the Gartner HR practice sees nine additional trends that will shape 2021 and the future of work:

1. Employers will shift from managing the employee experience to managing the life experience of their employees.
2. More companies will adopt stances on current societal and political debates.
3. The gender-wage gap will continue to increase as employees return to the office.
4. New regulations will limit employee monitoring.
5. Flexibility will shift from location to time.
6. Leading companies will make bulk purchases of the COVID vaccine for employees — and will be sued over COVID vaccine requirements.
7. Mental health support is the new normal.
8. Employers will look to “rent” talent to fill the skills gap.
9. States will compete to attract individual talent rather than trying to get companies to relocate.

Leaders who take a wait and see approach will find themselves at a disadvantage, while leaders who act proactively have a far greater competitive advantage.

While it is not yet clear what life will look and feel like post-virus, what is clear is that our future and the future of work will not be a return to the status quo.

I hope that as you read this post you clicked through the highlighted text.  The information is not opinion but reflects studies by respected entities. What surprised me the most is the shocking changes resulting from the 2020 COVID-19 experience in just one year. 

Pat Dwight

HQZ Experts - www.hqzexperts.com
For more information, contact Pat Dwight: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call: 949-454-6149.

Remote Employees’ Survival Tips

Looks as if the immense upheaval our culture and businesses have experienced may be the new norm … at least for a while. The crisis presented by Covid-19 has businesses urging, and mandating, that employees work from home. Approximately 25% of the workforce was already working at home by choice, but the new policies leave many employees — and their managers — working from a home office and separated for the first time. If you and your employees have never worked remotely 100% of the time, doing so requires big adjustments.

Shifting to a fully remote team requires creating and implementing the right practices. From the employee’s perspective, the new working remotely ‘normal’ requires rethinking and adjustment to remain productive and tamping down their stress level.

When working remotely, implementing effective guidelines is critical for success.

• Designate a Workspace: It is easier to stay focused if you designate a specific area in your home to get work done. This ‘office’ should provide you with both quiet and privacy.
• Comfortable Environment: Have the right equipment to remain efficient and productive. You must include a desk, telephone, printer, an ergonomic chair, office supplies and a desk lamp. Basics also include a computer and high-speed Internet connection that can support video conferencing.
• Boundaries: Most likely your spouse, children and pets are all in close quarters so establish signals so they’ll know when to leave you alone … when the door is closed, that means that you’re on the phone and can’t disturbed.
• Overcommunicate: Since your traditional office where seeing and talking to co-workers is changed, communication with them from afar remains very critical. Communicate frequently with your boss and clarify what is expected of you. Beyond that, reach out to co-workers and managers regularly through emails or by phone. Then talk with your clients/customers to reassure them you are there.
• Online Tools: Email alternatives (Slack) help workflow and offer social outlets. Telephone conversations remain important. Video teleconferences add another sensory element to your interactions because they enhance team unity and productivity.
• Do Not Overdo It: When working remotely it is easy to lose track of time. So, give yourself a break and take a lunch break and step away from your computer, walk around or step outside. This helps you feel refreshed and ready to get back to work. Pull yourself away, even if it is for just a few minutes.

Employers’ Remote Management Survival Tips

Since it requires a strong communication system to work well, trust is vital when employees work remotely. Whether you schedule regular calls or use apps for video meetings any scheduled team meetings must be treated as seriously as if it a ‘face’ team event.

Considering your team as “local” rather than “remote” allows everyone to adjust to a virtual team dynamic and quickly shift into an alternative work style meant to improve the general level of trust and strength in this new relationship.

To build and maintain a strong working relationship with your remote team set clear parameters from the start since doing so is essential to achieve the intended results. They must have set deliverables and should be manageable with the same expectations from on-site employees.

Prioritize Security

Security for all business owners must become more important when you require employees working remotely to access company networks and data. Experts recommend that all connections made to the company are done through a VPN (Virtual Private Network) that either leverages SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) which encrypt communications from the remote teleworker’s machine. This absolutely ensures that your system and the end user is protected.

Whether your employees use your equipment or their own, their working environment must be 100% secure. Ensure they have the right software in place to protect their hardware and they are fully versed on dealing with malware issues.

To support your virtual team in doing this, establish an online IT support - whether they choose to work in their own homes or in public spaces. Fully protected hardware is the first step in ensuring a secure working environment for remote workers and guarantees trust between the employer and employee.

Utilize Productivity Tools
Multiple team member projects cannot be slipshod. It is very important to make use of the proven tools designed to make work processes quicker, more effective, and less likely to result in error. Some of the most popular and useful productivity tools include:

• Trello: A project management tool but it can be used as a diary, a way of actioning tasks, sharing responsibilities or even as an editorial calendar.
• Slack: Allows for quick instant messages in the place of long email chains and is a much more reactive option for teams who need quick responses or if you need to speak to a team publicly and collect their responses where all can see. It is easier and much less annoying than multiple emails.
• Google Drive / Dropbox: For managing files in shared folders. The bonus many people find with Google Drive is easily compatible with almost any device and you have full access to the Google suite of software tools.
• Evernote: Organize your thoughts into notebooks, to-do lists and more ensuring you can find what you need when you need it. It is great for brainstorming sessions, writing quick blog posts, and keeping your thoughts in one place to look back on when needed.

Choosing to work with a virtual team can save jobs in this uncharted environment. Virtual employees develop strong and long-lasting team relationships and celebrate successes together. Finally, remote working builds a business that exceeds client expectations while retaining valuable, motivated employees on your payroll.

Pat Dwight

We can assist your business connect with your customers during these challenging times.

Contact Pat Dwight: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call: 949-454-6149.