With COVID-19 vaccines being distributed worldwide, companies are now faced with the decision of whether to continue offering remote working options permanently.
While world economies are unlikely to normalize until at least 2022, navigating the time in between has proven to be a challenge.
Remote working has been a huge morale and productivity booster for some, but others have expressed issues with isolation, communication, work quality and more.
Knowing this, it should be evident that this arrangement does not suit all workstyles and is outright not possible for some jobs. For instance, those in the manufacturing industry are unable to take their work home.
Still, data has indicated that this massive shift does not mean the end of the office. Rather, a more hybrid approach is emerging that provides the benefits of both in-office and remote working.
According to research from recruitment firm Hays of over 9,000 professionals across Asia in February and September of last year, half of respondents were unsure if their company was “future-ready.”
They also expressed the factors that would prepare companies for the future, such as more digitization, flexibility of remote working options, increased training and development opportunities and more.
“[This hybrid way of working] will provide diverse opportunities and a means for business continuity for the modern workforce comprising remote and on-site employees,” said Datuk Nora Manaf, chief human capital officer of Malayan Banking Bhd.
