In early 2020, the world seemed to stop. It seems a dramatic statement, but that is essentially what happened as schools sent kids home – and many businesses did the same. Restaurants. Closed. Movie theaters. Closed. Salons, barbershops… Closed. Any employee deemed non-essential who was not laid off suddenly found themselves having to show some workplace flexibility by clocking in at their dining room table or a makeshift office in a spare bedroom.
As restrictions eased, people went back to work. But some found that they were more productive, happier, and better able to manage the work/life balance at home. Workplace flexibility became the new normal.
What does this mean for the world of work – and for those who keep it up and running?
In Demand: Workplace Flexibility
Interest in – and demand for – flexible working arrangements has certainly been sparked by the pandemic. But even before, there was a shift taking place in the world of work. An estimated 80% of employees wanted to work from home at least part of the time. More than 33% say they would have taken a pay cut in exchange for the flexibility.
As a result of mass shut-downs, however, the work from home movement gained traction because managers realized that their people could work without their micromanaging. That is, they learned to manage in terms of results, not in terms of butts in seats.
Employers and employees alike experienced a variety of benefits–including cost savings–that could be the key to success going forward. And since more of us are expressing a desire to stay at home, it is important that companies respond with flexible work arrangements – or risk losing talent in a time when competition for employees is fierce across many industries. According to a recent Ernst & Young survey, for example, 54% of employees would consider quitting their jobs if they do not have some measure of flexibility when it comes to when and where they will work.
Ernst & Young Global People Advisory Services Deputy Leader and Global Workforce Advisory and Solutions Leader Liz Fealy says, “Employees’ willingness to change jobs in the current economic environment is a game-changer. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that flexibility can work for both employees and employers, and flexible working is the new currency for attracting and retaining top talent.”
Flexible Working Arrangements Make Bottom-Line Sense
When do you do your best work? Do you wake up at 4:00 am, filled with ideas? Do you need the morning to attend to “life,” and then come alive in the afternoon? The fact is that not everyone does their best work from 9:00 – 5:00.
Flexible working arrangements address our individual needs – while at the same time, boosting productivity for our companies. Given the tremendous amount of technology at our fingertips, there is no reason why we cannot work, meet, connect, collaborate, and produce from home or another location of our choosing.
Research has proven that employees are just as productive at home (or at least away from the office) as they are when they’re at their desks. Some are even more productive. Given bumps in satisfaction, they are also more engaged and happier in their roles.
Do you find yourself among the work-from-home workforce? Are you looking to refine your own flexible working arrangements to maximize the benefits? We have the solution.
Office Evolution: Keeping Pace with the World of Work
We want workplace flexibility – and that doesn’t mean getting rid of the more traditional work environment altogether. There are key benefits, including the sense of connection, communication, and culture that can be fostered in person. And, of course, there are those chats with coworkers in the common spaces that may spark ideas, lead to breakthroughs, or just make us happier to spend our days with others!
Office Evolution provides comprehensive solutions that meet the needs of today’s workers. We want flexibility; we want freedom; we want choice. We also want to talk, collaborate, interact with peers, and perform at our peak.
Coworking spaces, private office rentals, and conference and training rooms all play a role in creating a flexible work culture. You have the opportunity to leverage the space you need, when you need it, to do your best work. You have the ability to enjoy the benefits of “working from home” in an environment that is fully equipped with the technology you need and stocked with other professionals who have a similar mindset when it comes to their careers and businesses.
You are in control. Want to work from home? Great! Need a private, professional space to meet with a potential client, lender, investor, or partner? You got it. Want to work from the office a day, home for two, and from a beautiful, centrally-located space for two? Done. Flexibility is what you want, and it is what we deliver.
The mission of Office Evolution is to deliver solutions that make sense – logistically, practically, geographically, and financially – for today’s talent. “Working from home” doesn’t limit you to a desk in your bedroom, with your partner or kids clamoring in the background (or, worse, walking, sans clothing, into your Zoom!) It means you have the freedom to choose.
Contact Office Evolution to put your choice into action.