25/05/2020
https://www.facebook.com/114281276928164/posts/132509338438691/
As COVID 19 continues to disseminate and affect the workforces, jobs, and livelihoods of individuals globally, countless doubts and questions on the pandemic have since been raised by different individuals.
The spread of the virus has provoked the dissolution of many events and conferences. Furthermore, many employers were obliged to arrange their workforce to work from home.
While most employers will label these circumstances as disadvantageous, some employers started to see the benefits of allowing their employees to work from home.
As business owners continue to adapt to the changes and adjust to the challenges brought forth by the work-from-home scheme, an important question is raised. Is the work from home scheme truly a disaster, or is it a blessing in disguise?
๐๐จ๐ซ๐ค ๐
๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฆ๐: ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐๐ซ๐?
Before the COVID 19 situation came about, it was a well-known fact that Multinational Corporations (MNCs) such as IBM or HP promoted work from home cultures, and the results had been awe-inspiring.
Statistical studies have proven the fact that teleworking increases employee productivity. According to a study conducted by a well-known MNC, employees worked 1.4 more days per month than their office-based counterparts, resulting in more than three additional weeks of work per year.
These employees are also happier, which will potentially lead to a decrease in employee turnover rates. While many adjustments were necessary due to the mandatory work from home policy introduced by the Singapore government, and results might not be immediate, employers should start to take notice of employee productivity and learn from successful MNCs such as IBM or HP to overcome this difficult period.
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Although working from home can be disadvantageous concerning factors such as communication arrangements and standard operating procedures, with how advanced technology is currently, such disadvantages are brought to a minimal.
Big firms such as Twitter have decided to introduce a permanent work-from-home scheme. This exhibits how the gains can overcome the losses.
Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of the COVID 19 situation, employers should start thinking ahead, and consider implementing a work from home culture even after the circuit breaker is annulled. These are the reasons why.
๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
If you currently possess the mindset that employee productivity will be lacking due to the work-from-home scheme, take a step back and start tracking the production efficiency of the tasks you assigned to your employees.
Start gathering feedback from your employees, and inquire about their viewpoints on the current situation. Doing so will allow you to perceive if continual teleworking will benefit your business in the long run.
Most employees, especially millennials, relish on the luxury of a comfortable working environment where they do not have to be uptight and mindful of their surroundings. Being able to freely take breaks in between their work will also ensure that employees working from home are at their top condition whenever they are working on tasks.
With a relaxed working environment, their ability to deliver will not be weaker than when they are working in the office. Their productivity might even progress accordingly if all the variables are well put together.
That being said, it is crucial to recognize that teleworking does not guarantee you that your employees will be more productive. It can even produce the reverse effect if you do not manage them properly.
Strategic measures must be put in place to ensure that your employees will not get too comfortable at home and neglect their duties on hand.
๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
As employees work in a comfortable and familiar environment, they tend to feel more comfortable while working. The privilege of waking up later is yet another plus point for a majority of them. This is an important factor that can determine your employee satisfaction.
With a heightened employee satisfaction rate, you are not just looking at better work quality and efficiency, but also potential drops in employee turnover rates, as well as an overall increase in employee loyalty.
While recruitment can be time-consuming, if you are capable of keeping employee satisfaction high, you are curtailing the excessive amount of time needed to hire new employees.
On top of that, with elevated employee loyalty, you can be reassured that productivity will progressively improve as work chemistry and coordination develops over time.
๐๐ง๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
By digitizing your business, talent acquisition will be more accessible as you will not be restrained by geographical location and limited talent. You can acquire anyone even if they are half a planet apart from you.
Nevertheless, it is imperative to devise precise systems to deal with factors such as time and workflow to ensure that you maximise the utilisation of your newly acquired talent.
๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ฒ
While coordination might take longer due to minor inconveniences brought forth by teleworking, consider the amount of time your business has saved by working from home.
As your employees no longer have to travel to work, the likelihood of employees being late for work, albeit not significant, can be avoided to a certain extent.
Moreover, with accessible digital tools such as Zoom or Google Meet to connect with your clients, a lot of time can be saved as your employees will no longer have to commute to meet clients.
Additionally, as the demand for physical documents is diminished significantly, you will not need to waste your precious time on mandatory tasks such as printing and filing.
๐๐๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ฌ
Without the obligation to travel to work, your company will be able to reduce expenses by withdrawing employee travel allowances. The devaluation of physical documents and paperwork will also lead to a decrease in operating expenses such as paper and printer ink.
Electricity usage will likewise be reduced as fewer lights and air conditioners are required for standard office operations. With an ever-changing and fast-paced economy like Singapore, it is vital to continually accustom to changes and move forward with time.
While a great deal of planning and executions are expected, keep an open mind, and examine the various advantages of nurturing a work from home culture. While working from home might be disadvantageous to specific industries, it will unquestionably create value add to most businesses.
๐๐จ๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐
๐จ๐ซ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐๐-๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐
As the business world enters a new era, employers ought to look towards planning the actionable steps to digitize their business operations. In addition to gathering the necessary digital infrastructures and processes in place for such operation, companies should also help their employees transit to a non-social home working environment.
Businesses should also provide work-from-home employees with tips to improve their productivity: finding a quiet space with zero distractions, avoid unhealthy dietary habits, promote social activities during breaks or after work, create personal boundaries to prevent overworking, etc.
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Content By: Daniel Khoo
Written By: Mak Wing Yan, Angela
