What is the "New Normal"?
I keep hearing this term the “new normal” being thrown around. What does this mean in regard to the workplace? Well while we don’t know exactly what the new workplace will look like, we do have some indications based on the last few months.
Twitter just announced that when they are allowed to open up their offices for staff to return, they will allow any employee who wants to continue to work from home to continue to do so. Many companies and organizations will likely follow suit.
What are their reasons?
EMPLOYEES ARE HAPPIER WORKING FROM HOME.
Human Resources professionals have known for a while that employees who are provided flexible work arrangements, including telework, are more satisfied, loyal, and enjoy a better work life balance and quality of life.
EMPLOYEES ARE EQUALLY PRODUCTIVE AND EFFICIENT WORKING FROM HOME.
Until recently, many managers were reluctant to allow staff members to work from home due to concerns about productivity. Now that organizations have had to move to a remote workforce, many are finding out that with the right technology, training, policies in place, work can be done as efficiently from home. I’ll get more into tools for remote workers in the near future.
ORGANIZATIONS MAY BE ABLE TO SAVE MONEY ON OFFICE SPACE.
When we all do return to the workplace, there will probably be strict protocols and guidelines on the distance co-workers work from each other. Many organizations that are already tight on office space will need to rethink the layout of their cubicles and workspaces. Remote work may be an option to safely distance your staff.
Will it work for churches?
I can hear some of you now saying, “Remote work will not work in the church.” And you are probably right to some degree. Not all positions and not all people are good candidates for remote work. However, I encourage you to relook at some of your old beliefs about where and how the job can get done. Think creatively and open the dialogue with your teams to discuss the possibilities. You may find the “new normal” of remote work is a great option for members of your teams.
If you need assistance creating remote workplace policies, performance management standards, or setting up onboarding for remote workers, Christian Compliance Resources is here to help. Contact us at info@christiancomplianceresources.com.