As vaccines have begun to be administered across the world, companies are preparing for what the workplace will look like post-pandemic.
Although there has been much talk about returning to normal, it is clear that there is a new normal that businesses must continue to adapt to. This includes remote working arrangements, hybrid work policies and recasting the role of the office in everyday operations.
Remote working was once a highly sought-after arrangement for millions of people. Now that millions of people have experienced this way of working, they do not want to go back.
This means companies need to be ready to invest and nurture their distributed workforce. According to a survey from hardware company Cisco, 88% of workers in Asia-Pacific said they want the flexibility to choose where they work, whether that be from home or the office.
One of the biggest challenges of a remote workforce is keeping employees engaged.
Knowing this, business leaders must make the effort to ensure workers are staying on the same page, virtually interacting with their colleagues and finding ways to boost innovation and creativity.
Companies can successfully do this by rewarding workers when they’ve met goals, as well as checking in with them on both a professional and personal level.
In order to make a distributed workforce connected, engaged and truly flexible, companies will need to make sure their culture is one that empowers and trusts employees.
