During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an uproar regarding how companies are or are not taking care of their employees. As companies braced for the impact of the pandemic, the Human Resources departments in particular were faced with tough decisions and are expected to continue to evolve post-pandemic. While these changes are important, implementing strategies to adapt to and cope with change will prove to be even more important.
What kinds of changes will businesses see?
Remote work has revealed challenges; however, it has also allowed companies to continue business as usual. This evolution of work has demonstrated the possibilities of flexible work schedules and geographical proximity. In the coming months, the workforce may even continue to expand upon this flexibility, becoming a highly demanded benefit of working for a company.
According to Gartner, 32% of businesses are replacing full-time employees with contingent workers in an effort to reduce costs. Not only does this strategy help to save money, but it also allows for additional flexibility, including paying workers less while evaluating them for possible full-time positions.
As online work has sparked the emergence of remote work, job-seekers have been increasingly interested in how companies treat their employees throughout COVID-19. Organizations that did not prioritize employee safety were put in the limelight by the media, while companies that went above and beyond to make remote work seamless and encourage health and safety among their employees were heavily praised. This has an impact on how desirable a company is to work for, and as hiring expands again, employee prospects will be interested in learning how organizations handled COVID-19 and what kind of changes resulted within their businesses.
What should business owners consider going forward?
A humanitarian crisis such as COVID-19 has brought out the best and worst in companies. As businesses move forward, it is important to consider the changes that competitors are making to remain competitive in the job market. These changes may include flexible work hours, regular remote work, additional or new contract employees, and the adaptation of technology solutions.
In fact, Gartner reports that 16% of employers are using technologies more frequently due to the pandemic. This includes software that helps businesses monitor employees more efficiently through virtual time-tracking software, work computer tracking software, and even the monitoring of internal communications. Using these tools not only helps businesses monitor their employees’ information responsibly but also allows businesses to expand the collection of data for those working remotely.
The pandemic has left businesses with many tough decisions to make about the future. Those that rise to the occasion will reap long-term benefits regarding employment and working in the 21st century.
