Back To The Future - Part II
There is no denying the significant impact that COVID-19 has had on lives and livelihoods across the globe. You don't need me to rattle off more details of the numbers of infections, deaths, jobs lost or the impact to national and international economies.
It is possible for all of this be true, to respect and honour what we have lost during this time AND to embrace the things that we have gained. In fact, if we don't, we have missed one of the greatest opportunities in our lifetime to change the world for the better.
Amidst the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, Rahm Emanuel - an advisor to President Obama used a phrase that he has repeated in the past couple of months. “Never allow a crisis to go to waste,” Emanuel said - both then and now.
Across the globe, there have been benefits to the environment with reduction in air pollution and the return of wildlife to certain areas with less human activity. One article that I recently read reported that carbon dioxide emissions were down by up to 26%. Closer to home, there have been reports of decreases in rates of other diseases, including influenza (which takes thousands of lives each year) and increased community connection through initiatives to reach out to neighbours (especially the vulnerable).
In terms of work, a report by McCrindle research found that many Australians are positive about the opportunities presented by remote working, despite its challenges. Here are a few highlights from that report:73% of respondents would be excited to spend more time working from home.
69% agreeing that they are just as productive at home, if not more.
53% agree to some extent (26% only slightly) that they would be prepared to take a modest pay cut if given more flexibility to work from home
One of Australia's Big 4 banks, NAB has surveyed their staff. Some of their responses to similar questions are even stronger:80% of the people working from home say that they want to keep the increased flexibility
81%(!) of their people are at least as productive at home - 45% say that they are more productive.
These are compelling facts and figures. It is hard to imagine better ammunition to encourage a reconsider returning to how things were. A conversation with one senior HR practitioner recently told me of a shift that her company (a multinational FMCG) was considering around flexible work. Rather than having to get it signed off and approved, they are considering making flexibility in working the norm. It shifts the arrangement into the future - away from being compensated for time to reward for the value that individuals and teams deliver. Some companies like Twitter have found that remote working has enough benefits to make returning to the office optional permanently.
Some questions for you to consider this week:What benefits have you personally experienced through the response to COVID-19?
What benefit have the teams that you work with experienced?
How will you take that into the future?