The start of the pandemic did not look promising for employees; they were being laid off in big numbers and also witnessing salary cuts. However, tables turned when the world began to open doors to offline work. This time around, the power laid in the employees’ hands, who were now too used to the remote style of working to go back to the office.
The ‘Big Quit’ movement started with workers from the retail industry started quitting their jobs due to low wages and inflexible timings. According to various reports, 4 million people in the USA alone quit their job. This trend can be witnessed in other countries as well, where people with white-collar jobs say that “they would rather change their job than go back to the office”. When one person or a few people leave an organisation it influences others’ into quitting. Seeing our peers quit, elicits the question of whether the grass is greener on the other side.
What has caused this extreme shift of preference?
The pandemic has enabled people from all over the world to reconnect with their families. They no longer have to trade-off between their family and work. Remote working has given people the power of ‘flexibility’, a word that is being used in the corporate world now, more than ever. Employees can now run errands while being on a conference call, take breaks, give more attention to their family and prioritise their mental health. They no longer have to make a ‘tough choice’ when it comes to work and self. Working remotely makes one spend less time in traffic or in getting ready to go to work. While some people might prefer taking frequent breaks, some might prefer working at ‘non-office hours’ and all this has been made possible by working from home. There are indeed a few downsides to it too, lesser in-person interaction could possibly hamper career growth opportunities. Keeping all these things in mind, a hybrid environment seems promising in the long run.
It is beyond the ‘perks and pays’
Employees are now seeking work environments that resonate with their personal beliefs. They look at prospective jobs in a more holistic way which is beyond the compensation offered. People are placing a high value on intangible perks in contrast to traditional monetary perks. Employees prefer offices where they not only feel wanted but also feel like they are making a meaningful and significant contribution. Offices like Google, with an indoor gym, pool table and hangout spots were extremely desirable before the pandemic era. There is now a stark shift in employees’ needs.
Some companies have stepped up their game by offering home-delivered meals as a replacement for in-office lunch coupons. Companies are realising the gaps and are seeking to fill them in order to attract quality employees. It is fair to assume that traditional perquisites are obsolete.
What can managers do?
While conventional managers firmly believe that physical presence at the office would enhance productivity, leaders of today must take a step back and reassess the situation. Has productivity gone down while the employees were working remotely? What kind of a hybrid setup would be ideal for both employees and employers? Is worth letting go of good employees for the adamant need to work in an office? It is also noteworthy that the remote or hybrid model of working is a win-win situation. Employers’ operating costs drop drastically, while the productivity remains unchanged.
The Japanese are well known for their balanced and efficient working styles. Many leading corporations in Japan are adopting remote working policies not only for the benefit of their employees but also to reduce net-zero emissions and enable long term sustainability. There is an impetus from the Japanese government to accelerate digitalization in the rural parts of Japan. Monthly commuter stipends were replaced by remuneration for increased home bills. In addition to Japan, other South or Southeast Asian countries like Sri Lanka, Singapore, Cambodia, Maldives, Indonesia, Malaysia and India ranked high in remote working.
Most companies around the world are leaning towards hybrid working styles, we are yet to witness how this all shapes up!
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