The Post-Pandemic Work World: Job Flexibility is Priority
Before 2020, most employees commuted to work and spent at least forty hours a week in jobs they weren’t happy with. When COVID-19 happened, everything changed. No one hoped to come out of the pandemic with anything other than their life and their loved ones, but the health crisis forced a large percentage of people to work remotely. This recent shift toward job flexibility was a difficult change at first, but it ultimately gave people higher expectations for the future.
Now that over half of the U.S. population has the COVID-19 vaccine, employers are eager to get their teams back to work. Companies seeing the most employee satisfaction and productivity are those embracing job flexibility. Whether through fully remote work or hybrid work models, it’s clear that the post-pandemic world is making job flexibility a priority.
Transitioning Toward Remote Work
Before the pandemic, only 17% of the U.S. workforce worked remotely full-time. After the pandemic, that number rose to 44%. When including the number of employees that work remotely at least one day per week, the number rose from 34 to 59%.
The transition to remote work initially happened out of necessity because of health concerns from the virus, but as coronavirus cases trend down, the transition to remote work seems like it will continue. Not only are employees happy with the job flexibility that comes with working from home, but employers are finally witnessing the benefits that come from telecommuting teams.
Job Flexibility Can Increase Productivity
In a survey of 2,100 conducted from March 17th, 2021 through April 5th, 2021, FlexJobs found that employees prefer job flexibility so much that 58% of people would consider looking for a new job if their current position discontinued the remote work option. Out of the people surveyed, 65% wanted to work remotely full-time after the pandemic and 33% would prefer a hybrid work model.
Employers must take employee work preferences into consideration if they hope to keep company morale high and retain top talent. 55% of people reported that their productivity increased while working remotely, which is likely because of more job flexibility and better work-life balance.
If employers can trust their employees to perform well in their job roles while working from home, then job flexibility can save time and be a cost-effective option for everyone involved.
Invest Money in Remote Teams Instead of Offices
Companies that abandon the brick and mortar business model can save hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in operational costs. Foregoing office rent fees takes a huge burden off many small and medium-sized businesses who may be struggling to recover after the pandemic. Without an office, companies can also eliminate utility costs, fees associated with office equipment, building maintenance fees, and office supply costs.
Some of the money saved on these in-person necessities can be reinvested into a new remote way of working. For example, companies with flexible work policies may offer their employees more wellness benefits so they feel ready and able to leave the house and stay active. Employers can also offer laptops and other office equipment to remote employees who need to set up a remote workspace.
If most of the company lives within close vicinity to one another, then renting out a monthly coworking space to get some face time can be a nice treat. The money saved on leasing a long-term building space can make room for smaller expenses like this.
Employers Must Embrace Job Flexibility
Some employers may not agree with the trend toward job flexibility. Depending on the job role, it may be necessary to work in-person, but there are many jobs that employees can do from anywhere. Employers must embrace job flexibility moving forward because if they don’t, they risk losing talented candidates.
In 2021, the employee is in control of how they want to work. Many companies are fighting for the best talent and offering desirable amenities, unlimited paid time off, and flexible working arrangements as incentives. With so many options for job satisfaction, no one should ever feel pressured into the pre-pandemic mindset of settling for a job they aren’t happy with.
Why the Hybrid Work Model is a Great Compromise
The hybrid work model is a great way for companies and their employees to compromise while the corporate world adjusts toward greater job flexibility. Hybrid work models may involve going into the office a few days a week or gathering in a coworking space a few times per month to handle important business matters. To get more information on our coworking spaces in New York City, reach out to Bevmax Office Centers.