HR by Hr is the approach we are taking this year. It makes sense for an industry professional to contribute to our audience of HR professionals. Lisa Young is that person and we hope you find these articles insightful as they come from a perspective of someone who understands the day to day challenges of working in an HR environment.
By Guest Contributor Lisa Young - HR Coach and Founder of HRHQ
Almost five years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the world forever.
Although it was an incredibly challenging time, and the impacts still linger, here are three things we can thank the pandemic for:
While I do love that more people now sneeze into their sleeves and think twice before shaking hands, points 2 and 3 have especially transformed the workplace and the way we work.
When the pandemic hit, the world of work underwent a very rapid transformation. The workplace changed, and so too did the definition of a workplace.
Roles that previously “couldn’t be done remotely” became entirely remote overnight (quotation marks because we always knew it was kinda possible, right?).
Those of us in HR were tasked with building processes and policies to disband the workplace and adapt the business to this new reality, which was by no means an easy feat.
So, while many companies are currently being criticised for undoing that good work and ordering their employees back to the office, here are six reasons why leveraging remote work should still be a key pillar of your HR strategy and in turn your Employee Value Proposition:
Flexibility and Work-Life Balance: Remote work offers employees the flexibility to structure their workday around personal commitments and responsibilities. By eliminating long commutes and rigid office hours, the morning chaos with kids, or the need to spend an hour getting ready in the morning (guilty!), you give your people the power to better manage their personal and professional lives, leading to increased job satisfaction, well-being, and higher engagement.
Expanding Your Talent Pool: Of course, by sheer coincidence your perfect candidate might just happen to live near your office, but why leave it to chance? Maybe to find this unicorn employee you need to cast your net a little wider - you no longer have to confine your search to workers who live in the same city. The rise of remote work and digital connectivity has shattered geographical barriers, allowing companies to tap into an ample global talent pool. Just imagine how many more hot CVs would flow in by removing the postcode prerequisite and focusing purely on finding the right skills and capabilities, wherever they may be.
Cost Savings: Introducing remote work is a sure way to reduce costs in your business through increased retention, reduced sick leave and absenteeism, and less overhead associated with maintaining a physical office space. What will it be? Flexibility, or standing desks, fruit bowls, pizza parties, and foosball tables? They will have their demands whichever way you go. Employees also get more money back in their wallets by saving on commuting costs, wardrobe expenses, and eating out. #winwin
Increased Productivity: Although you might have seen videos online of employees slacking off or strapping their mouse to moving objects to ‘appear’ online while they sleep, don’t let that small minority scare you off. Numerous studies have shown that remote workers are often more productive than their office-bound counterparts. Without the distractions and interruptions of the traditional office environment, and being comfortable in their own space, employees can focus better, leading to higher levels of productivity and output.
Business Resilience: Remote work offers a level of assurance and adaptability needed for business continuity during unforeseen circumstances such as natural disasters, pandemics, or even just the common cold spreading amongst the office and taking out your team. By having remote work infrastructure in place, companies can maintain operations and minimise disruptions, while also reducing lost time due to sick leave and absenteeism.
Widen Your Reach: If world domination is on your business strategy, now or in the future, you can do this much faster and with fewer hoops to jump through by leveraging remote work. Creating a remote presence allows you to quickly expand your market reach and establish a global footprint without the need for immediate physical infrastructure, reducing costs and speeding up your growth strategy. With swift action, you could have feet on the ground with just a laptop in hand in no time at all.
Remote work is not just a temporary solution born out of necessity during the pandemic but an essential shift in the way we approach work. Rather than resisting this change, it’s time to reframe the way we view workplaces and rethink traditional office dynamics to drive opportunities for growth, innovation, and success.
Want more support to make a greater impact in your HR role? Follow Lisa on LinkedIn where she posts daily about life in HR, or join her and over 200 others inside HRHQ, the education and community platform for HR professionals.
