The shift to remote work changed how we look at business. Flexible scheduling has become a necessity, and it’s likely to stick around.
On the coronavirus timeline, we are nearing the time of widely available vaccines. We aren’t there yet, but the initial doses are making their way through emergency FDA approval and looking to reach frontline workers in the next few weeks. While we are still months (at least) away from herd immunity kicking in from vaccines, businesses are still largely operating on remote work. It’s put a strain on internal systems and processes and some businesses have seen production slow, but it’s not all bad. We’ve learned a lot through this pandemic, and one of the things we’ve learned is that a 9-5 schedule really isn’t all that necessary.
Recently, we discussed how at PWV we’ve always had remote workers, but we’ve also always had open schedules. While some business is necessary to conduct during specific hours, such as meetings and conference calls, other business documentation and projects can be done at the employee’s convenience. In the wake of the pandemic, business leaders are finally beginning to follow suit.
Employers are becoming increasingly flexible with schedules amid the pandemic, mostly out of necessity. Many people who were sent home to work have children. Whether those children are in school or not is a moot point because everyone is at home. Each age group presents it’s own challenges, including how much assistance is needed with virtual learning. On top of that, most families have two working adults, both of whom are trying to work and kids are doing school and sometimes the internet connection just doesn’t hold up. It’s become increasingly important for managers and business owners to understand the problem this presents for employees. As long as employees are productive in their work, many employers are not scoffing at the need to work at 8pm instead of 10am.
Another consideration for being flexible with scheduling is that it allows for more people to enter the workforce. Parents who are forced to stay home to care for a medically fragile child or because childcare costs outweigh income now have an avenue to help provide for their families. This also accounts for people affected by disabilities, whether their own or as a caregiver. Freelancers and contractors who struggle to keep business going can now build a stable base for business with the opportunities that arise.
Aside from the benefits listed above, allowing for a flexible schedule also allows people to work when they are at their best. Not everyone wakes up with their brain ready to work at top speed, some people think better in the afternoon or evening, sometimes into the night. When you allow employees to work when they can perform at their best, the work they produce will be far better quality than what might otherwise be provided.
Lastly, we are seeing companies now experiment with 4 day work weeks and working towards deadlines and deliverables, instead of 40 hours, 8 hours a day 5 days a week. Companies have been forced to trust their workers to work without being supervised or having punch a clock, and, overwhelmingly, they have found that people perform their jobs just as well anyway. Job performance isn’t about butts in seats, it’s about achievement, pride and goals. COVID-19 is largely proving companies fears of open schedules and remote work are unfounded.
The coronavirus pandemic taught us a lot thus far, and continues to teach us every day. We’ve always known that humans are resilient, innovative, creative and that we will band together in times of need, but this is the first time in modern history that we’ve been faced with a situation of this magnitude. Which is why it’s so intriguing to see how the world has adjusted. Humans, by nature, hate change. Many people do not handle it well. But, when it comes down to it, humans are also resilient and tough enough to do what is necessary to adapt and thrive.