Globally, so much has happened in the business work environment since the outbreak of the pandemic. The first shock was the state of unpreparedness for the pandemic by all businesses, followed by the drastic devastating disruptions of people interaction, systems, and workflows at the workplace. Consequently, businesses have suffered irreparable damage in their quest for increased profitability, productivity, and overall organizational performance.
But while all these things were happening and spreading vigorously like bushfire, have the business leaders been proactive enough to react? What decisions and action plans have they come up with in real time to try and mitigate the devastating effects of Covid-19 at the workplace?
Truth be told, very few business leaders have stood out as role models in addressing the challenges of the new norm in post pandemic times. In essence, many leaders are failing well established businesses with the false hope that things will slowly creep back to normal. This is so, even when global research is showing otherwise.
For instance, in the 2021 Deloitte Global Human Capital Trends survey, 41% of organizations believe that building workforce capability, through upskilling, reskilling and mobility, is the way to go in the new norm of the work environment. In addition, while 31% of organisations agree that establishing new work practices, policies, and incentives, is what should be happening now, 22% believe that organizations should be restructuring to support the new work outcomes. At the same time, because of the disruption of human interaction, 16% of organizations believe that matching portfolios of humans and machines working together to support the new work environment should be embraced.
In another research by O.C. Tanner Institute Covid survey of 2020 in the USA, it was established that because of Covid-19, there has been a whopping 91% decline in employee Net promoter score. Furthermore, there has been a 42% increase in a tense workplace atmosphere, and a 57% increase in staff disengagement.
On the other hand, the University of Chicago Institute for Economics – through its New York Times survey, also confirmed through its research that 77% of employees say that the workplace culture will never return to pre-covid -19 normal.
So, in summary, even with all the above facts, what have business leaders done to improve their workplaces and consequently their businesses? Has any of them reviewed the strategy, the policies, the systems and workflows, the portfolio of humans and machines interface, or even just the healthcare benefits of their staff? Quite a big number of business leaders still think that things will slowly settle down and go back to normal, thus adopting a wait and see attitude. A sizable number of business leaders have done a few things but not substantial enough to cause a real change in their work environment. However, a small percent of top and very strategic business leaders, have been proactively engaged in programs and activities, one after another, not only to contend but to conquer the workplace and create the work environment of the future.
Q) As a business leader, what have you done to change your work environment???
