How Covid-19 will change the role of the office and how we work

Fostering productivity

Performance is not about 9-5 ¬– it is about output and productivity. With clear communication on goals and expectations and with proper performance management in place, offering remote working and flexibility can drive greater employee loyalty, commitment, and productivity.

Much has been written about work-life balance and the benefits of flexible working for both the employer and the employee, but the ongoing impact of coronavirus on the travel industry will mean long-term changes are needed to the way we work.

With huge pressure on costs, some employers will struggle to justify the need for large offices when it has been proven that working remotely can be successful.

Many travel businesses will inevitably become smaller. Central hub and head offices with a total hot-desking approach will become much more popular, enabling a mix of remote and office working, with people working in the office two to three days per week, for example.

Of course, working from home is not for everyone and we often hear people say they miss the social interaction the office brings. But do the benefits of office social interaction outweigh the added overhead costs? Right now, probably not.

Face-to-face interaction and social opportunities are of course key contributors to collaboration and culture.

However, for many, concerns over daily commuting into large cities will remain, making remote working an appealing option.

As customer-facing travel professionals such as high street travel agents return to their locations and businesses start encouraging teams back to offices, flexibility still needs to be given in order to ensure a happy workforce.

Work-from-anywhere approach

We recognise for many, perhaps those living at home with parents or in a flat share for example, working from home is not always the best environment.

But the choice shouldn’t be limited to work from home versus the office – forward-thinking businesses are embracing a “work-from-anywhere” approach – allowing the flexibility for individuals and teams to work from anywhere, in a way that enables them to be at their most productive and effective. The focus should be on enabling “remote” working – and not assuming that means “from home”.

Gail Kenny Executive Recruitment is a big advocate of flexible working and the benefit it provides to employers and employees. Our team works remotely but meets once a week in a location chosen by a different team member.

We utilise a diverse range of places including coffee shops, serviced offices, private members’ clubs, hotels and even the National Opera House. All offer free Wi-Fi and have a great social setting, enabling collaboration and our social fix. Travelling out of rush hour is encouraged on this day too.

Right now successful businesses will be innovating, transforming and rebuilding for the new norm. There will be a huge benefit in having an effective remote or flexible working approach in place. Removing the location restriction enables employers to attract the best talent regardless of where they are based, provide a positive work-life balance and drive employee engagement as a result.

While there is not a one-size fits-all solution, two things are key: a results-driven approach and flexibility. A positive outcome of this dreadful virus has been the opportunity to bring freshness to dated working environments and modernisation to employers’ approach to working remotely – hopefully this shift will become the new, long-overdue norm.