In many ways, it’s hard to believe that in only two years, so much has changed and it happened so quickly. We have to accept that things will never return to what they were pre-Covid.
During these last two years, companies had to be innovative in the way of continuing to operate, maximize profits and do this under extremely difficult conditions, particularly with social distancing.
Just step back in time for one minute…pre-Covid. Staff went to work, and managers were there to oversee their teams and could measure their performance and progress. In one fell swoop, nobody could go back to work. Social distancing and terror of illness caused a huge dilemma.
This was overcome by getting staff to work remotely, using their home as a home office. Entrusting that they would work the same number of hours and perform according to deadlines and tasks set. Zoom/MS teams became the new boardroom and businesses moved into a new and uncertain future of how to ‘manage’ their employees.
Daily meetings were held by each team leader and business had to be conducted in a totally unfamiliar way. We know of the casualties of retrenchment and many workers that were laid off. We are still counting that cost and the psychological damage that prevails.
Now let’s fast forward back to the present time where restrictions are no longer evident and staff are expected to show up. Companies have met with resistance and will risk losing their top talent. Why? Because companies refuse to be flexible and allow hybrid roles to blossom out of sheer belief that staff need to be ‘seen’ in order to be working. BS!
When companies were unable to operate, except by creating completely remote roles, they were only too happy to continue to trade. Now the expectation is to have these same reliable employees travel to work and back every day.
Petrol prices have surged, and the man in the street relying on public transport or taxis has to pay exorbitant tariffs to get to work. Any wonder they are resentful?
So…Organizations, Businesses, Industry, why can’t there be a halfway point of flexibility by creating and accepting hybrid roles? In this way, a healthier company culture prevails, as staff are given options on how to best manage their work/life balance. Many people had to do without help in the home and school runs became much easier to manage between husband and wife during these last two years.
Without this being considered as a functional and intelligent way to get the best out of your staff and improving your company culture to ensure sustainability, companies that do take this attitude will soon soar 20% ahead of their closest competitors. And another thing, top talent, your millennials, are looking for better working conditions.
By not considering this option of hybrid roles, where staff are able to avoid peak traffic hours, and avoid having to engage a helper to fetch and look after their kids, they are placed under huge financial pressure yet again. The cost of living is crazy, inflation is frightening, and the supply chain keeps making a grocery shop experience, an absolute nightmare. Less and less is going into the trolley, yet it’s costing more. Wake up!
Salaries are not on the rise. Companies have made that clear, so do something that makes a difference, where contrary to believing that it will hurt your bottom line, the reverse is true. By entrusting your staff to negotiate their hours in and out of the office, they will ensure their performance and in fact, you will get increased value and productivity from that staff member.
It is shortsighted to think that having people show up to work, that they will indeed ‘work’. Research has shown that unhappy or disgruntled staff work a maximum of 180 minutes per day! They pitch up and clock out, not much enthusiasm, loyalty, or interest in how healthy the company’s balance sheet looks.
Most of the workforce today are millennials with a very different mindset. They are not jumping at the first job that is offered to them, they want to know what the company can do for them. And why not? By agreeing to negotiate working hours, with the understanding that performance is expected, you will have a happier person, more invested, and much more productive than you ever believed possible.
The company culture will evolve into a workplace that staff want to join and be part of the vision, development, and growth of the company. That’s where you get your top talent and retain them.
You got through covid with 100% remote roles. A hybrid role gives a win/win situation to both company and staff members. When you trust your resources to make the best decision that works for them, it is guaranteed to work for you.
Flexibility is the latest development that is trending in 2022, and top talent are not afraid to pursue better options. COVID has changed many of our mindsets and we realise more now than ever, to value what is really important. When you consider that you work for more than half your life, you want to make the best decision for yourself.
When you have bosses that realise they are accountable to their staff and provide a rich and healthy Company Culture, you have a company that will grow, develop and profit beyond measure…think about it.