“Everyone, including employees, are now realizing they are losing touch with each other and the company. Remote, permanent remote working, simply will not work.”
In a recent “virtual” town hall meeting attended by business professionals, Mike Bloomberg, American businessman and billionaire, said offices are not going away after the pandemic passes. He indicated that companies need central locations for staffers to gather, to work together, and collaborate.
He also added that business owners that initially thought they could allow their staffers to work remotely permanently are now reconsidering their positions. “Everyone, including the employees, are now realizing they are losing touch with each other and the company. Remote, permanent remote working simply will not work.”
Recent studies support this conclusion, such as one conducted by Cushman & Wakefield, the largest property management company in the world. They conclude that offices serve “a vital purpose as an inspiring destination that strengthens cultural connections, learning, and bonding with customers as well we colleagues.”
Their study also revealed the following, both good and not so good about remote working:
The Good
•Remote workers believe they have proven to their managers that they can be trusted and perform their work satisfactorily.
•Managers agree, and the study indicates that most have been impressed with remote working programs.
•Remote working helps protect the health of those workers that continue to work in offices.
•Companies are finding by allowing remote working, the number of available skilled workers has increased.
•Remote workers feel they have greater autonomy and choices regarding who they want to work for. Instead of working for a local employer, they now can consider working for companies far from where they live.
•Some work typically performed by employees can now be outsourced to independent contractors. This can have several benefits for employers, including cost savings.
•Remote workers in central cities do not have to depend on public transportation, which is considered a health risk in certain situations.
The Not-So-Good
•Remote workers report they miss the human connection and bonding in-office working provides.
•Managers report that “learning programs” and training are less successful when staffers work remotely; when conducted in-office, learning and education tend to be enhanced in group settings.
•Younger remote workers report they are having difficulty learning corporate cultures and how to interact with fellow staffers.
•Managers report it is harder to maintain a company culture, vision, and mission with most people working remotely.
•The concept of staffers working in “teams” is diminished. More remote workers prefer doing their work autonomously, which minimizes collaboration and can further damage corporate cultures.
•While it was initially successful, after several months of remote working, some managers report that worker productivity appears to be slipping.
The bottom line is that companies need to reevaluate remote working programs on an ongoing basis.
Right now, with the pandemic escalating around the country, employers may have no choice but to rely on remote working. But once a vaccine is introduced and cases start retreating, having more staffers working in-office may prove beneficial and may be welcomed by workers.
Further, we are learning new ways and more effective ways to keep facilities clean and healthy. Cleaning companies such as ours have developed entire infection control programs, using electrostatic sprayers and other tools, proven to eliminate pathogens and keep people healthy.
If Bloomberg’s comments are correct, along with this study, allowing workers some choice and flexibility as to where they work, could be the best option and the template for future work situations.
We are infection control experts, here to help building managers keep their facilities cleaner, healthier, greener, and safer, in the most cost-effective ways possible. To learn more about Secure Clean, contact us at 888-609-1410.
