The world has been doing business the same way forever. We adopt new technology, we develop new products, we make slight adjustments to this or that. But we always do it from the same location, the office (or plant or site or call center etc). Working from home is not a new concept and people did that sometimes.
Most pre-COVID responses to work from home (WFH) requests came with a slew of reasons it was being denied. No one questioned it because it was outside the norm of how business was done.
Who knew it would take a massive global event to affect (more like infect) the entire world to shake up and change up the face of modern business? If the pandemic hadn’t happened, where would you be as you read this?
If you are an employer that wants your employees at the office Mon – Fri you will likely have several positions to fill, and you will have to settle with the leftover talent because the top talent got picked up by a more flexible company.
If you are determined to have employees back in the office, there are things you can help them transition:
However, be advised that 64% of people interviewed said they would likely quit a job that did not have flexibility. The Wall Street Journal said “ In a March survey of 2,000 workers by Prudential Financial Inc., one-quarter said they plan to soon look for a role with a different employer
With companies in all industries shorthanded, workers have options and if you can’t meet their needs, chances are another company can and will.
Workers want change. People have been working 9-5’s on a job site since the Labor Relations Law became a thing in 1935. Over the years disgruntled employees began complaining about unfair practices, bad supervision, and companies that “just didn’t care.” According to a Global Workforce study, 7 out of 10 people will have made an effort to change and move up their careers.
Before COVID, companies were finally beginning to realize that keeping their employees happy costs less than keeping them miserable, and as a bonus, it made their market happy.
Life continued as it does and on we went getting up, going to work and coming home again. It’s what we did because it’s what we have always done until we didn’t.
The pandemic showed people that having a job isn’t guaranteed, and as a result, people have begun searching for a job that gives them the things they want most with flexible working days topping the list. In fact, employees are willing to take a pay cut to have the freedom to make their own schedule.
A study conducted by ADP shows that 71% of 18-24-year-old workers said they will consider looking for a new job when ordered back to their desks. In contrast, only 61% of 35 to 44 years old workers and 55% of 45-54-year-olds feel the same way.
Workers want work-life balance and the freedom to create schedules that naturally work best for them. Some of the reasons work from home are desirable choices:
People who can avoid commuting and dressing for work, find it is much easier to care for and work with their children. Half of the interviewees believe that working from home has made it easier to be a parent.
One trend some employers are seeing: high turnover among the newest employees, many of whom started remotely and have never met co-workers in person.
We’ve been quick to embrace history at the expense of the future. We hold on to what we know because it is easy and familiar but it’s time to let go.
In other words, the pre-pandemic idea of "normal" will never exist again.
When you partner with Ulliance, our Life Advisor Consultants are always just a phone call away to teach ways to enhance your work/life balance and increase your happiness. The Ulliance Life Advisor Employee Assistance Program can help employees and employers come closer to a state of total well-being.
Investing in the right EAP or Wellness Program to support your employees will help them and help you. Visit https://ulliance.com/ or call 866-648-8326.
The Ulliance Employee Assistance Program can address the
following issues:
• Stress about work or job performance
• Crisis in the workplace
• Conflict resolution at work or in one’s personal life
• Marital or relationship problems
• Child or elder care concerns
• Financial worries
• Mental health problems
• Alcohol/substance abuse
• Grief
• Interpersonal conflicts
• AND MORE!
References
2022 State of the consumer trends report. (2022, 05). Retrieved from Hubspot: https://www.hubspot.com/hubfs/2022%20Consumer%20Trends%20Report.pdf?hubs_signup-url=offers.hubspot.com%252F2022-consumer-trends-report-download&hubs_signup-
Goldberg, E. (2022, June 10). A Full Return to the Office? Does ‘Never’ Work for You. Retrieved from The New York Times::https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/09/business/return-to-work-office-plans.html
Lily. (2021, June 22). Retrieved from TheLily: https://www.thelily.com/go-back-to-the-office-these-women-would-rather-quit/
Lufkin, B. (2022, may 24). The workers quitting over return-to-office policies. Retrieved from Worklife:https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220523-the-workers-quitting-over-return-to-office-policies