Creating a Healthy Culture in a Changed Workplace

Remote employee working from home. (Source: Shutterstock)

COVID-19 has led to a vast experiment in off-site work, which will continue even after the pandemic is brought under control. The number of U.S. employees operating from home almost tripled from several years ago and doubled from mid-March (31%) to mid-May 2020 (65%), according to Gallup. The U.S. now has over 100 million off-site personnel. In fact, a number of credit unions had to move upwards of 90% of their staff to work-from-home environments. Off-site work will be the new normal as social distancing necessitates a decrease in employee density and physical changes to the workplace.

Both management and employees alike are realizing the appeal of off-site work. As a result of the pandemic, more than half of managers that supervise off-site employees plan to increase off-site work based upon its effectiveness. McKinsey research found that 70% of off-site employees believe it is as productive or even more productive than working at the office. Employees appreciate the flexibility that remote work brings, especially to family life. More than half of at-home workers told Gallup that they would prefer to continue working remotely once restrictions ease.