According to a poll sponsored by the Harris Poll and USA TODAY, 40% of American workers are not interested in returning to their offices and would like to continue working remotely.
The survey, which was attended by 2,100 employees from different companies and organizations who worked remotely during the pandemic, also showed that 84% of respondents see the greatest benefit of working remotely as not having to spend time commuting to work, using public transport, a private car or on foot.
Moreover, 58% of the survey participants said they would look for a new job if at some point they were required to give up their duties in a dedicated mode and return to their workplace in the office.
Create Flexibility
The pandemic has granted people a great degree of flexibility. Employees who used to take time off to attend to a sick child, or run an errand, have now been able to continue working from home.
People have grown accustomed to meeting work demands without the need to clock in their every hour. Leaders who want to keep their best employees need to offer some semblance of this flexibility. In addition, allow for ongoing options to work remotely, even if not every day.
Promote Mental Health
Employers should encourage their employees to seek therapy or counseling, and to offer to cover these services. It is essential that individuals have access to mental health help after a trauma, which is exactly what we’ve all been through.
Create a Safe Space
Employees should create space for employees to be able to talk about their experiences and get support from others. There are many industrial organizational psychologists that provide this type of support for organizations and teams, including offering retreats that help employees connect and feel safer with each other.