Q & A
EDITOR ’ S
It ’ s been over a year of remote working and it is quite evident that remote or hybrid working options to employees offers increased productivity by employees and operational cost benefits to employers . It is also estimated that by 2025 , 70 % of the workforce will be working remotely at least five days a month . However , before jumping into the bandwagon with an assumption of benefit to business , it is important for a company to assess its current office culture , team sizes and operational requirements . The benefits of remote working can be just as advantageous for the employers as
ENAS AL ISA , HUMAN RESOURCE SUPERVISOR , TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIES MIDDLE EAST
The benefits of remote working can be just as advantageous for the employers as the employees and therefore must be well assessed before deciding the course of action .
the employees and therefore must be well assessed before deciding the course of action . Since the fear of the pandemic is still prevalent , the last thing a company wants is to open its offices fully and expect employee return only to detect cases that will not only disrupt business but also pose a threat to employees ’ health . This leads to added burden of financial loss due to disruption or increased employee health care expenses . A hybrid workplace therefore keeps employees safe during these uncertain times .
While remote working was implemented as a coping mechanism during the pandemic to sustain businesses , employers and employees everywhere have realised that a healthy pattern in remote working has many benefits . These include increased productivity , employee retention and cost advantages .
Aside from the security concerns , other issues organisations be looking at when developing and adopting a hybrid model to give employees freedom to choose between tradition office environments and working remotely include ensuring an efficient , productive and secure hybrid work environment is vital . Some of the other areas that employers must be looking at over and above security are : seamless connectivity and transparency , managing the hybrid team , managing unconscious bias , impact on culture , collaboration abilities and , employee wellbeing and social engagement .
Aside from that , the common challenges that CIOs and IT team have faced when it comes to employees working from home include the flow of communication . Communication is one of the most critical factors of a work culture across all members of the entity . It keeps every team member updated and helps maintain a healthy workflow . Hence , regular team meetings is crucial ( virtual or physical ) to bridge the communication gap between team members and build cognitive and emotional trust .
Going forward Companies are increasingly adopting extended work from home policies . Before the outbreak , only 7 % of workers in the US had access to a ‘ flexible workplace ’ benefit or telework according to Pew Research Centre . Today this has changed . The pandemic has clearly ushered in new ways of working and whole range of benefits have emerged on top of what a traditional workplace provides . Companies are now choosing to go the hybrid model for the long term , hence adopting remote work needs and policies and embedding them into the company ’ s culture . Here are a few ways that organisations will alter to keep this going and reap benefits for the long-term .
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