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As we move into 2021 (thank goodness…), a COVID-19 vaccine is rolling out nationwide, and the world starts to refocus on business as usual. If circumstances progress as expected, a gradual shift back toward “normal” business operations will begin.
The U.S. experienced a dramatic spike in remote employment when the pandemic began, with employers moving much of their staff to continue their work from home. While it’s uncertain how things will ultimately mean for the long-term, there does seem to be an early consensus that remote staffing will continue at levels higher than prior to COVID.
In April, Facility Executive reported, “88% of companies have required their employees to work from home in response to the coronavirus pandemic.”
In May, a Gallup poll revealed that the number of American employees working from home rose from 7% pre-Covid to 62%.
In June, researchers from Stanford University predicted, “the share of working days spent at home is expected to increase fourfold from pre-COVID levels, from 5 percent to 20 percent”.
In July, a Gartner survey showed, “82% of company leaders plan to allow employees to work remotely some of the time” [once the pandemic is over].
In September, data came out that showed productivity levels of remote workers previously working in an office had shown a statistically significant increase.
Global Workplace Analytics now predicts 20%-30% of workers will be working remotely “multiple days a week” at the end of 2021.
The convergence of five factors may be explain why current COVID-forced trends will remain in some form once the pandemic has been contained.
1. Many professionals want to work from home, and some would take a pay cut to do so.
2. Per Global Place Analytics, people who work from home spend less money (incurring fewer commuting-related costs) and often take home more net income as a result.
3. Large companies can save thousands of dollars per employee, per year in real estate and other administrative costs via remote work.
4. Remote work technology and tools are now able to meet the demand and needs of the work community. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Basecamp, Blink, and other applications make this possible.
5. Attitudes and perceptions about remote work have evolved because in many cases staff productivity levels have on par with the period of time prior to COVID.
Many well-known companies have already announced their intent to swing in that direction, giving credence to current predictions, and not surprisingly they’re a “Who’s Who” of Big Tech – Amazon, Snapchat, Facebook/Instagram, Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Salesforce.
Of course, there will absolutely be employers that want to bring their staff back under one roof. The feeling of a loss of control by executive leaders when they can’t physically supervise their employees on a day-to-day basis, will play a role in that. As will situations in which their best customer service and collaboration occurs with everyone working together.
Happy 2021!
Philip Roufail contributed to this article.
Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.
