Will Covid 19 change the way we operate forever?

It is fair to say that Covid 19 has impacted all our lives in so many different ways.  Many employees have been forced to work at home, whilst our key workers are still going out to work and experiencing working conditions that can only be compared to a terrifying action movie that never ends. 

Employers have had to quickly enact new policies and procedures focusing on absence, health and safety, remote working, and business interaction - including travel and external meetings.  Conferences have been cancelled and we are no longer able to fly half-way around the world to meet clients.

If companies are still pushing ahead with recruitment, recruitment consultants and employers are doing their best to endorse video interviews and remote induction programmes.
 
Questions to ponder

• How much time has previously been wasted by holding long tedious meetings that can easily be dispensed with and addressed by emails or a Skype call? 
  
• Should employees fly around the world when video conferences are available and cheaper? Jetting around the world for conferences and meetings feeds an executive’s ego, but can the same outcomes be achieved using video conferencing? With less plane travel and more people working at home and not commuting, pollution will be reduced, and the environment and air quality will improve.
  
• Would it be easier for a job seeker to have a video interview instead of forcing them to sneak out of the office with some lame excuse, commute across town to the company and then scurry back to work worried that they’ll be found out?
  
• Does this unprecedented situation prove that there is not an absolute need to have everyone congregated together in one place? With the advancements in technology, might it be possible to have large numbers, if not all employees, working remotely?
• Surely companies will save a fortune on rent and travel related costs and have happier and more motivated employees?

 
Evidence suggests that being able to work remotely enables employees to be more productive, care for their children and avoid stressful commutes, overall improving mental well-being.
 
However…
Whilst some people react well to working from home, others find it isolating and distracting with perhaps younger children around. They may miss the face to face interaction and are generally much happier in an office environment. 

While video calls can be helpful, face to face meetings with customers and colleagues are still valuable, as are overseas meetings with clients which help to build rapport and stronger relationships and gain first-hand understanding of the culture and business needs. 

What this experience has taught many employers is that effective home working can be achieved. Employees still work hard and meet deadlines. Relationships with clients are still being maintained and recruitment can continue. 

It is certainly interesting to reflect on how these unavoidable changes may well reshape the world of work forever.