The sudden change to our lives has forced us to discover other, usually remote, forms of work. Now that quarantine conditions are being loosened; the public is preparing for a new exam – returning to work. However, can the scenario we had up to now be repeated, can we return to work just the way that many of us left theirs on March 13?
The current circumstances appear critical to us, contemporary Europeans; we are used to a different sort of daily life. In all areas of life, we have enabled the main human rights and privileges to work for our benefit. We have become accustomed to proclaiming our values, our rights, our desires loudly. To be free to choose not only at home but also at work. More accurately, we were accustomed because, over the past month, our reality has changed. Now we can practice our value decisions and freedoms between four walls on our own or during endless work meetings on various internet platforms. This fundamental shift has shocked many of us. One must admit that the pandemic has changed both staff and employers.
While we eagerly await a return to supposed normalcy, everyone keeps wondering – how will things be like? What priorities will be necessary for our staff? What risks should we, employers, prepare for? Here are a few predictions, which I would highlight for the very near future.
Fear – it is one of the most important things, which has recently held sway over people. For more than a month, we have been watching news of the pandemic dominating the news media. Fear is caused not only by the statistics of the infected, the sick and, unfortunately, the deceased – no less fear and worry is caused by wondering whether it will be safe afterwards. Is our job not placed in a geographically risky zone, does our sector have much contact with people, do we interact with members of risk groups? Concern over our own and our close ones’ health, the virus’ impact on the economy, fears over jobs – that’s constant stress, which we face already. According to Professor Eric Gordon, who studied the matter of returning to work in the USA, this process will without a doubt happen in waves – there is no doubt that staff confusion will be accompanied by employers’ despair and the dilemma of whether it is worth satisfying staff demands. Thus, what is clear is that fear will not vanish anywhere even after the quarantine and preparations for this must be done right now.
They changed attitudes to work. Despite initial difficulties, with the quarantine gaining momentum, remote work did not seem an impossible challenge – this was proven by representatives of a slew of professions in their services – ranging from medics to priests. Nevertheless, some realised that they love their work, while others, on the other hand – that they do not want to return. There’s also a third group, which hopes that their workplace can create for them different – safer and more flexible – working conditions. For example, a freer schedule, selective performing of tasks, if you want – from home, if you want from the office and if you are at the office – everything over a safe distance from now on. The old reality no longer exists for them – employees await changes because they themselves have changed. It is not without reason that in communications, lately the term new normal has gained sway, asserting that what was before no longer applies.
Future prospects – expectations and worries. So many internal and external changes over such a short time force us to think about our future prospects. Experts warn that following the quarantine, there will be even less demand for low qualification, routine task performing staff, and human contact will be replaced by technological solutions, which are currently experiencing a true renaissance. Furthermore, there’s talk about what professions will remain relevant at all and which – will be left overboard. It is clear that this time will bring clear changes in the jobs market – employers must accept these not only themselves but also must suitably communicate them to their staff.
Increased loyalty to the employer. If last year, surveys in Lithuania suggested that staff were increasingly often making the decision to move to a new job and were considering doing so soon, this period has allowed rethinking values. Uncertainty in regard to the economic situation is amplifying survival instincts and naturally forcing us to adhere to those, who care for us. Staff, who retain their jobs, will be thankful for the employer’s efforts; however, in such a situation, the employer’s response is no less important.
After evaluating all these changes, it is crucial to consider one question – what is important to you, our employees, right now? The answers could be genuinely unexpected. After all, we still do not understand what emotional impact this pandemic may have had on our staff, however if we do not ask, we will likely never find out.
