When WHO declared Covid-19 a pandemic nearly two years ago, the entire world came to a literal standstill. The post-Covid era of work from home model has become the new norm for companies. It is interesting to note that people have reacted differently to remote work, with some thriving and others struggling in a home office setting.
A McKinsey study found that 80% of the respondents enjoyed working from home. Among the respondents, 41% report being more productive than before, while 28% report being as productive. With long commutes and travel eliminated, many employees have found more productive ways to spend their time, enjoyed greater flexibility in balancing their personal and professional lives, and preferred working from home. Increasing productivity, creating an even stronger culture, and significantly reducing real estate costs are all benefits many companies believe they can realize while also accessing new talent pools with fewer locational constraints.
Hybrid work model
While many companies stuck with the work from home model, many others are reopening their offices and several other businesses moved to a hybrid work model – a combination of remote and in-office work. This model has become increasingly popular in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. It allows companies to continue operating while also ensuring the safety of their employees. With a hybrid model, companies can reduce the amount of office space they need. However, a potential disadvantage of a remote work or a hybrid work model is that it can be difficult for managers to effectively supervise and manage their team when some employees are working from home and others are in the office. This can lead to issues with accountability and can make it difficult for managers to provide support and guidance to their teams.
Cons of remote work or work from home
Working from home can be difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Another potential negative of working from home is that it can be isolating. When you work in an office, you have the opportunity to interact with your coworkers and form social connections. However, when you work from home, you may feel isolated and disconnected from others. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and can have a negative impact on your mental health.
Additionally, working from home can also make it difficult for managers to effectively supervise and manage their teams. When employees are working from home, it can be difficult for managers to provide support and guidance, and it can be challenging to ensure that everyone is on track and meeting their goals. This can lead to issues with accountability and can make it difficult for teams to work together effectively.
When you work from home, it can be tempting to work longer hours or to take on additional work, such as moonlighting for another company. This can lead to burnout and other negative effects on your well-being while also making it difficult to manage your time effectively. This can also be detrimental to the organization you are working for.
How can we address this?
So if as an employer you are looking for a solution that will work in favor of both you and your staff, then you might want to consider exploring (and subsequently implementing) an employee productivity monitoring software. This type of software application can provide managers with visibility into their employees’ work habits and productivity levels whether the employee is working at the office, at their home or at a shared working space.
Employee productivity monitoring apps allow managers to set jobs/tasks/goals and track progress, which can help to ensure that employees are on track and meeting their objectives. These apps can also provide employees with feedback and support, which can help to improve their performance and engagement. In addition, productivity monitoring apps can also help to improve accountability and ensure that employees are working efficiently. These apps can track the amount of time employees spend on different tasks, and can provide managers with insights into which tasks are taking up the most time and which employees may be struggling.
Along with productivity monitoring systems, companies have started to use cloud based project management, communication and collaboration software applications which makes it efficient for remote staff to work together, share ideas and feedback.
In conclusion, the future of work seems pretty clear – employees want flexibility and prefer to work from anywhere thereby maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Employers need to be flexible with respect to employee demands. Using employee productivity monitoring apps to keep track of productivity and deliverables is the way to go. With productivity monitoring tools such as Handdy, both employers and employees can be in a win-win situation. For more information on Handdy and how it will help you as an organization, visit www.handdy.com
