Is remote work the new signing bonus? Well, according to a Wall Street Journal article, it is. How exactly has remote work evolved since the start of the pandemic and how will it change the employment landscape in the future?

Are you looking for a startup or scaleup recruitment agency? We can help connect you with world class talent around the globe, get in touch with us today!

Well, to better understand this dynamic let’s set the stage and see where it all began.

The first confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported in Australia on January 25, 2020. By May, nearly a million people had lost their jobs with most businesses operating contingency plans.

For those lucky enough to still be employed, remote work quickly became the new norm. Fast-forward to July 2021 and companies are now actively seeking to resume normal operations and get people back to work.

However, it appears employees have new demands regarding their work-life balance. Remote work is now high on their list of sought-after requirements.

So, is remote work here to stay?

What Employees Have To Say About Remote Work

The Remote Working Survey Report 2020 from Employment Hero provides us with some interesting insights:

The good thing is, companies are listening to their employees. According to an Australian Bureau of Statistics survey, already 4 out 5 Australian businesses agree that remote work is definitely here for the long-term.

Of the companies currently permitting employees to work from home, 80% believe they will continue with this practice long-term.

45% of these companies are all too happy to pursue this avenue because they have noted a positive shift in attitude and employee wellbeing.

Restructuring Job Offers in a Post-COVID World

Contrary to what some people might say, remote work did exist prior to COVID-19. The pandemic only served as a catalyst to see it play out on a massive scale.

A great example of an Australian company managing to make an smooth transition to remote at the onset of COVID-19 is National Australia Bank (NAB).

In an interview with ZDNet, Steve Day, the bank’s Enterprise Technology Executive said, “In March 2020, we went from approximately 5,000 remote workers to 30,000 in just three weeks, with 98% of operations staff working remotely in just five days.”

How did NAB do this? Before COVID, their teams were experimenting with remote work options for employees, and so when lockdowns began, they were more than ready.

The bottom line is, people want the flexibility to be able to work remotely, and they will give preference to those companies that offer them those options.

If you’re thinking about how to go about offering remote work as part of your company, here’s how a few other companies are doing it:

• Apple is asking office workers to come to the office on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, taking Wednesdays and Fridays as optional work-from-home days.
• Adobe is allowing workers a 50/50 hybrid situation from July.
• Google employees will be working in the office the a few days a week, with the option to work remotely the remaining days
• Facebook will allow all full-time employees to work remotely if their job suits the arrangement.

Are you looking for a startup or scaleup recruitment agency? We can help connect you with world class talent around the globe, get in touch with us today!