I have been fascinated watching the remote work experience of companies during the COVID-19 pandemic. For many companies, remote work has been a part of life for years, while other companies have resisted it. The lack of trust and the fear of losing control of employees, employees slacking off/losing focus/delivering sub-par work quality, etc. have kept many from giving remote work a chance. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced some of these resistant management teams to place more trust in their employees and to consider the possibilities.
I am a firm believer in allowing remote work and other flexible work arrangements. I am also a firm believer in giving your employees the opportunity to try out flexible work arrangements, and only taking those opportunities away if the employee shows that the arrangement is not working (which sometimes happens).
Advances in technology have opened doors to make remote working possible for many companies. Changing jobs when someone isn't happy is much more common than it used to be. Want to keep your employees around? Show them you trust them and that you value what matters to them - allowing flexible work arrangements is a great way to start!
