Digital Work Isn’t Going Anywhere

Employers should provide employees the flexibility they seek

Employee trips to the office are now at about one-third of pre-pandemic levels as millions of workers head back to the office. That number is only expected to rise, with nearly three-in-four remote workers eager to return in person.

A successful transition back to the office will rely on not only those workers who are back in the office but also those who are not. Those who continue to work remotely will enable businesses to keep in-office counts low and focus on what kind of work needs to be done in-person. And, like many things after the pandemic, the workplace isn’t going to look the same.

Digital workers will continue to play an outsized role as organizations transition to the hybrid workplace. In the post-pandemic economy, it will be imperative for businesses to support employees and ensure a level playing field no matter where they are working from. By this point, most remote workers that are full-time have mastered the etiquette of great audio, video, physical workspace and self-starting motivation that is needed to be a productive remote worker. In the months ahead, these employees will keep the organization moving in the right direction during this transitional period.

With any change that is introduced into an organization, transition and inefficiency can take place. As some employees come back to the office, the organization is prone to some risk and a possible drop in productivity. Remote workers can help ease the distractions that come with any transition and ensure the organization continues to get work done.

Additionally, businesses have realized over the past year that having remote workers means they are no longer constrained by the geographic location of the physical office. Since a large number of positions can be executed remotely, employees no longer need to live within a certain radius of the physical office. The entire country or world is now available to fill these positions.

Acquiring the right talent can make or break the success of an organization. By expanding the talent pool, businesses have a higher probability of profitability.

Even before the pandemic, a large portion of the business was managed from a computer. A significant amount of the core data, transactions, communications and processes are managed on a computer. The pandemic only underscored how much of business is done digitally.

In many cases, remote workers found themselves to be much more productive overall since they can stay laser-focused on tasks without any of the in-office distractions. While both remote and in-person scenarios have positive and negative effects, having a mix of both workers will result in a healthy balance.

Yes, some job functions are better done remotely — anything that can be done with a computer or phone is a prime candidate. Other kinds of work, like functions involving collaboration and communication, are best done face-to-face.

But in the hybrid workplace, we are all essentially still “remote.” As some come back to the office while others continue working from home, the in-person employee will still be disconnected from the remote employee. This means that in-person technology must evolve as well. Instead of just a headset or camera for a remote worker, conference rooms are going to need group audio and video technology upgrades.

Just as humans need food, air and water to survive, audio, video, screen sharing and communication platforms are the basic needs that employees need when looking at technology. Remote and hybrid workers need these technologies to survive.

For the foreseeable future, the only need for in-person work is when you have a physical product, physical service or in-person interaction that is needed. That includes a certain level of coaching, mentorship, and training that must be executed in-person. More seasoned employees are higher candidates for remote working where newer employees to a position or the workplace will still need some in-person assistance.

Once these needs are addressed, the organization can then focus on more business critical technologies and processes. The organization will need to mature automation after these basic needs are met. Technology will continue to play a critical role in the success and security of every organization.

One of the primary outcomes in the post-pandemic environment is the realization that organizations need to provide much more flexibility to employees. The time of placing every employee into a 9-to-5 workday, five days a week, and in the office, is over.

Every employee is at a different stage on their life journey. Every stage of life requires different resources and flexibility. I think back to when I had three children all under the age of three. My life and work balance were much different then, than it is now that my children are 9, 10 and 11. This will continue to evolve as they grow up and move out of the house.

Employee needs are much different today than the time when my parents were in the workforce. And employers are now realizing that by focusing on the individual needs of each employee they stand to create a much more productive and sustainable environment for all employees.