Businesses have slowly started to open their doors back up and it is up to employers to reevaluate the way their company operates in order to stay competitive, and more importantly, keep workers safe and healthy.

Adopting flexible and remote working will no longer be seen as a nice-to-have amenity. Now, companies will be expected to offer these arrangements as the past few months have proven that employees can be productive working from virtually anywhere. In fact, according to a Gartner survey of CFOs, 74% said they intended to keep at least 5% of their on-site employees in remote working positions permanently.

The drastic shift towards remote working has also exposed that several businesses were not well-equipped with the technology necessary to keep operations going during unprecedented times. That is why companies should invest in and future proof their digital infrastructure to prevent issues moving forward.

Mental health issues were also highlighted in the midst of the pandemic. Now more than ever, employers have a duty to offer their workers with the proper resources and tools to help them address mental health concerns. When employees are mentally unwell, it not only hurts them, but also the business as productivity takes a hit.

Communication is essential to a successful business, especially when workers are not in the same proximity of one another. That is why employers have to prioritize connecting with their staff to ensure everyone is on the same page and guide them through difficult times such as this. This improves relationships, collaboration and company culture overall.