With all the quarantines imposed worldwide, thanks to the global COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses have had to embrace remote work to continue to operate. But as the coronavirus eases its grip and quarantines are lifted, organizations are slowly finding out that employee expectations of safety have changed, especially since many prefer their current arrangements and aren’t eager to return to their respective workplaces.
Business leaders have begun to grapple with all this change, facing legal, HR, and logistical challenges as a result. Many companies have shown interest in continuing work-from-home policies, and some are open to the prospect of giving their workers the choice to either engage in their duties in the workplace or at home. But it doesn’t necessarily mean that remote work is always an ideal arrangement because there are some benefits of in-person interaction that modern technology can’t replicate entirely.
The majority of remote workers believe in a re-evaluation of their jobs, the relationship between their professional and personal lives, the culture and value of the organization, and, more importantly, their health and well-being.
The pandemic redefined remote work
The safety and health of the workforce are the top priority for many businesses. While most organizations already have policies that protect and support their respective employee bases, the crisis brought about by the pandemic has elevated them to a more critical thread within their cultures’ fabric. And through the problem, business leaders are leaning in and embracing humanity to maintain connection, focus, and momentum in many different ways, from allowing their employees to continue working remotely to procuring better worker’s insurance coverages. You can find out more here.
For example, in April of 2020, there has been an estimated sixty-two percent of workers in the United States remotely working to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. The year’s first half has also proven the efficacy of remote work. Because of COVID-19, many workers have had to adapt and adopt the WFH model, and the lasting legacy of this shift is rethinking the work that can remotely be done in the long haul.
Remote work is beneficial in spite of its challenges
The shift towards remote work has presented many challenges. In fact, there are people who have found difficulty in separating their home and work. However, most have found it advantageous to their work-and-life balance. Even with the tension of the prospect of being expected to be reachable beyond their working hours, the benefits of being able to work remotely far outweigh its disadvantages, not only to the convenience it offers but also to the health and safety of the employee.
Conclusion
It’s easy to see why employees are increasingly preferring to interact digitally as opposed to going back to the workplace. After all, it saves them the cost and trouble of traveling to the office. But it also keeps them safe, especially from the threat of the coronavirus. Because of all its advantages, it likely won’t change even after the world overcomes this global pandemic.
For more articles, visit OD Blog.
