31 Aug The impact of the home office in the business environment
Due to the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic, the home-office became a modality of work increasingly used by companies worldwide. However, it has also brought with it various questions such as labor expenses, the adequate time of the working day, etc. Therefore, organizations will need to take new measures such as the adoption of integrated technologies and internal communication strategies.
THE HOME OFFICE DURING THE PANDEMIC
According to a report by the International Labor Organization (ILO), before the pandemic, less than 2% of the workforce in Latin America worked under this model. Some of the main reasons for the low use of this modality was that employers felt that they lost supervisory control and that employees would not have sufficient responsibility to fulfill the assigned tasks.
However, according to Adobe data, during the pandemic, up to 67% of workers worldwide implemented this new work scheme, reporting positive experiences and great benefits for companies. Greater effectiveness was reported in the work of employees and companies saved on operating expenses, which represented a better return on investment (ROI).
Advantages of implementing remote work
Some of the most outstanding benefits of the home office are the following:
- Cost savings
The companies managed to reduce costs such as paying for electricity service and renting physical spaces. In the case of employees, studies indicate that they showed an increase in their purchasing power, even with the same salary. This is because up to 25% of their resources were invested in travel, food and clothing to attend their workplace.
- Increased productivity
PwC studies indicate that 35% of employees maintained their productivity under this modality, while 58% indicated that they even managed to raise it. There are many factors that support it; such as the fact that each employee can manage their time more efficiently and in a more comfortable environment to perform their activities.
REMOTE WORK TRENDS
Due to the success of the home office, companies must take into consideration some trends that will be present in the future of work, so that they can adapt to changes. Some of these trends are as follows:
- Hybrid working model
According to Luis Sánchez, Managing Director at Cushman & Wakefield Mexico, once the pandemic comes to an end, offices will remain irreplaceable and will only evolve to adapt to the new needs of companies, building a “hybrid” model between remote work and work in the office. Therefore, according to a survey by the firm KPGM, 90% of companies are considering the creation of flexible schemes that combine the home office with work in offices.
- Digital onboarding
Another trend in remote work is the incorporation of new talent with an online onboarding process. This is a great advantage for companies, since they will be able to recruit professionals from anywhere in the world through technology and integrate them into the company with increasingly innovative tools.
Conclusion
Although the home office has meant a great challenge for companies, it has also allowed them to evolve and be more competitive. As mentioned above, workers have the opportunity to demonstrate their ability and skills no matter where they are. Therefore, it is essential that organizations begin to apply this modality to adapt to the changes and trends that arise in the labor market.
References
Heraldo Binario. (2022). ¿Cuál es el FUTURO del HOME OFFICE? la tendencia de empleo que CRECIÓ gracias al INTERNET. Extracted from https://www.heraldobinario.com.mx/empresas/2022/5/21/cual-es-el-futuro-del-home-office-la-tendencia-de-empleo-que-crecio-gracias-al-internet-25850.html [Consulted: August 22, 2022]
MDZ. (2021). Un estudio reveló un dato clave del home office que podría impactar en el futuro del trabajo. Recuperado de https://www.mdzol.com/sociedad/2021/11/5/un-estudio-revelo-un-dato-clave-del-home-office-que-podria-impactar-en-el-futuro-del-trabajo-199066.html [Consulted: August 22, 2022]