How Covid-19 Could Change Flexible Working Arrangements
The unprecedented social restrictions brought about by Covid-19 has forced many Australians to work from home for weeks on end. What may have initially seemed to be a frustrating and isolating experience has, for some professionals, become a convenient, time-saving and effective way to work. So, the question now is how will the nation’s hiatus from the office influence traditional office hours?
Greater employee demand for more flexible work options
While this extended period of working from home is not something anyone chose, this unusual period of confinement has, in many instances, illustrated professionals’ ability to work effectively and productively from home. As trust in this form of work arrangement is further consolidated, it is likely that more employees will demand, and more organisation’s will offer flexible working arrangements, not as a PR perk, but rather as a part of a standard employment contract.
In the US, the long-term impacts of lockdown on working arrangements are already beginning to show. The business publishing company getAbstract reporting that 43 per cent of full time American employees have said they want to work from home more often after restrictions are eased; and 20 per cent of employees stating that their employer is exploring ways that working remotely can be more of an option in the future.
Less office maintenance for employers
For many firms, prior to Covid-19, flexible work arrangements were largely viewed as an ‘attraction’ mechanism that was often applied rigidly (with some employees required to request usage of their flexible work benefits weeks in advance). However, following many organisations compulsory shift to operating remotely, there is increasing evidence to suggest that employers may be more willing to allow employees to routinely work from home.
According to the research firm Gartner, who surveyed 317 CFO’s and business leaders, 74 per cent of those surveyed predicted that at least 5 per cent of their workforce will continue to permanently work from home after the pandemic ends. Gartner attributes this future shift in work arrangements to executives’ desire to capitalise on reduced office costs. After all, if flexible work arrangements were offered to a greater number of employees on a regular basis, it would naturally follow that the expenses associated with maintaining large office spaces would greatly decrease, especially if space saving strategies such as ‘hot-desking’ were to be employed more often.
Potential benefits of long-lasting changes
While it seems likely that there will be some sort of increase in the number of employees working remotely after Covid-19, what would be the benefits of such a shift? There is a proven correlation between allowing employees to work from home more often and improved work-life balance, which has been shown to have an enormous impact on both mental and physical health.
According to SBS, Australian city workers commuted an average 66 minutes a day in pre-Covid-19 times. As such, if more employees who previously worked in the city could work from home, they would save at least an extra seven hours per week by simply not commuting to work. This would have a positive impact on not only professionals, but also on families, as a joint study by CNBC and Change Research Survey revealed that 47 per cent of employees surveyed during the pandemic have been using the time they normally spend on commuting with family instead. The survey also revealed that with the time saved on getting to and from the office, employees have been sleeping more, focusing on hobbies and getting more work done.
As we navigate our way through the uncertainty of the ‘new normal’ over the next few months, what is becoming clear is that the approach of each workplace may be unique. Flexibility, understanding and high levels of employee engagement will be required as business requirements combined with the preferences of employees will need to be taken into consideration.
Dovetail Brand Engagement specialises in assisting companies with the implementation of best practice initiatives, aligned to your brand and culture and can work with you to adapt a flexible workplace to ensure ongoing employee engagement and retention. More >
Source : getAbstract, Gartner, CNBC and Change Research Survey