Home or Remote Working - Long Term?
Steve McKenzie ??
"creating unforgettable experiences, one sip at a time" working with Craft Spirits producers from all over the globe and providing bespoke events for the crafty community. Also, "you don't look like an accountant"
Over the last 11 months, a lot of businesses and business owners have had to make some hard decisions.
These are unprecedented times, and, in many sectors, drastic restrictions have been put in place. This has made running a business in those sectors almost impossible.
For many office-based businesses, their staff are still working from home and probably wondering if they will ever be back at their desk.
It has however become apparent that many of these types of businesses have adapted and so have their staff. Being at home for the last eight months has made working from home seem almost normal.
Rooms and cupboards have been adapted into makeshift offices or varying sizes.
There are many pros and cons to this, but one of the biggest issues that I have come across is TRUST.
There has always been an issue about trusting an employee who works from home.
Trusting that they will do the same hours and level of work at home as they would do in the office. This year many employers did not have a choice and were basically forced into setting up homeworking.
However, many of them a realising that there are a number of benefits to this set up:
- Staff are happier for a number of reasons, less commuting, better work life balance and so on.
- Employers are seeing happier staff, and for a lot they are also realising that savings can be made by downsizing office space.
I know that not everyone is happy to work from home, employees and employers but there are many who do see this an overall benefit.
Imagine if by saving a fortune in the rental of a city centre office, you could afford to make sure that your homeworking staff had more job security because the business was more fluid.
The main factor as I see it, is that in many cases it does not matter where your staff are based. If they can be just as productive, and are happy with it, then why would you need that fancy office. Is it more about image than productivity?
Yes, there are other factors such as having a place for meetings, having that physical address for the business etc. Surely this is worth businesses looking at more closely to see how they and their staff can reap the rewards.
It’s going to be interesting as we head into 2021 whether or not businesses will go back to “business as usual” when they are permitted.
Or perhaps we will see the landscape change for the better? What's you take on it?
Managing Director at Learn to Grow Ltd. | Managing Director at Ascend Coaching Group | Leadership & Management Consultant | Organisational Development Professional | Business Consultant
4 年I think that we will see a blended approach to working. I already know some organisations are informing employees that they will come into the office on designated days e.g. blue team, red team etc. It may become an employee benefit having a greater degree of flexibility. Also many employers can see the impact on the bottom line of not running big expensive city centre buildings. Will be interesting to watch how it unfolds.
Revolutionising education and industry by equipping schools and businesses to nurture future talent | Meta Skills Complete School Package | Partner for Impact with our Business Partnership Programme | Team Development
4 年It’s definitely all about trust Steve and hopefully the pandemic has shown people that they can trust others. In regards to working from home the difficulty is that most people are social creatures and need social interactions so I’m not sure the office is dead just yet. I do believe that there will be a hybrid of the new working week with increased levels of trust allowing people to work both home and in the office. It actually may create a more balanced life for people and a better understanding of each other. Good times ahead I think.
Director-General | CEO | Non-Exec Director | Sales & Commercial Director | Consultant | Lobbyist | Keynote Speaker | Business Coach
4 年I think it is in some form. The various lockdowns just forced companies to try this way of working.