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Prior to 2020, businesses were already utilizing many aspects of technology. Software development helped companies communicate, organize, increase productivity and automate their processes. As a society, we were used to technology being part of the landscape of the corporate world.
When the coronavirus pandemic hit and employers were forced into remote work, the utilization of technology was put into overdrive. For instance, video conferencing (via Zoom or Teams) was quickly implemented as the meeting method of choice, as it offers the closest-to-real-life experience.
Now that the workforce has adjusted to working remotely, many companies are taking a hard look at their work environment and considering making some big changes. As companies build their post-pandemic teams, they are considering the following.
Previously, companies were generally limited to hiring talent in their immediate metro area. With remote work, the talent pool is virtually limitless. Companies can offer competitive salaries, as the cost of living is greatly varied.
Candidates with in-demand skills can apply for jobs anywhere in the country (or world!) without having to worry about relocation. This puts power in both the candidate and the company’s hands, as the talent availability is unleashed.
One of the greatest elements of remote work is flexibility. Manpower Group recently surveyed more than 8,000 employees and one of the most common areas of concern were in regard to losing the flexibility they have while working remotely. The study found that, “offering employees the opportunity to work remote isn’t the only way to enable people to work flexibly and balance work and home. For roles that need to be done in the workplace offer staggered start and finish times, more flexible scheduling, and understand the priorities people have to balance in order to get their work done.”
In order to maintain the flexibility remote work offers, many companies are opting to continue remote options. If not full time, some companies offer remote days, or partial time needed in the office. This allows their team to manage their work around their life, and not the other way around.
One simple pain of working collaboratively across the country has been managing different time zones. Working remotely, this isn’t as big of an issue. Even if a meeting has to start earlier or run later, employees are able to manage it easier because there is no commute, and they are able to shift downtime as needed.
Hopping on a video chat used to be for the younger generations and those who were particularly tech-savvy. Now, grandparents have met new grandbabies over a video chat. Weddings have been hosted virtually. Video chats aren’t just for the tech-savvy anymore; it is generally accepted as a regular form of communication, both at work and at home.
Company culture is often why an employee feels satisfied with their work environment. Harvard Business Review states that, “culture doesn’t exist within walls; it exists within people, so you have to build culture through people.”
Many supervisors struggle with micromanaging their subordinates. Working remotely offers employees an opportunity to prove their productivity. Not everyone is organized and efficient while working from home, but for some this opportunity has been refreshing to their workflow. This allows managers to trust and nurture the employee well, because they feel secure that the job is being done well.
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