Sweeping Workplace Changes Expected in A Post-Pandemic World
Sweeping Workplace Changes Expected in A Post-Pandemic World
Spring Professional Published A Research Study by The Adecco Group
Businesses and employees call for greater flexibility, questions raised over the hours-based contract, and a new empathetic leadership profile emerges
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Employees demand greater flexibility after coronavirus, with a 50/50 split of remote and office time confirmed as the universal ideal
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Questions raised over the hours-based contract, with 69% saying contracts should be based on results delivered rather than hours worked
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Boom in digital skills an unintended consequence of lockdown, with tech knowhow improving for six in 10 (61%), and two thirds (69%) eager for further digital upskilling post-pandemic
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Leaders need to reinvent themselves as more emotionally intelligent, but they are not prepared, as less than half felt equipped to support employees holistically during the pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in pivotal shifts in attitudes and expectations among workers and leaders, as both call for permanent changes in how and where we work, workplace relationships and future skills, according to new research from the Adecco Group.
Spring Professional, the leading brand of the world leading workforce solutions company, the Adecco Group, today extended the results of the group’s latest study, Resetting Normal: Defining the New Era of Work, examining the expected short- and long-term impact of the pandemic on resetting workplace norms. Fieldwork was conducted in May 2020, with 8,000 candidates and associates (aged 18-60) across Europe, Asia and the United States.
The Adecco Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Alain Dehaze, said: “The world of work will never return to the “normal” we knew before the pandemic struck. The sudden and dramatic change in the workplace landscape has accelerated emerging trends such as flexible working, high-EQ leadership, and re-skilling, to the point where they are now fundamental to organisational success. As many countries emerge from the acute crisis phase of the pandemic, employers have an opportunity to “hit reset” on traditional workplace practices – many of which have remained largely unchanged since the industrial revolution. This research highlights that employee attitudes have shifted and gaps between workforce expectations and entrenched labour market processes have been exposed. As we step into the new era of work, now is the time to establish better norms that will enable a holistically healthy, productive and inclusive workforce into the future.”
Key research highlights:
The future is flexible
The research revealed that the working world is ready for a new “hybrid” model, with three quarters (74%) of workers surveyed saying a mix of office-based and remote working is the best way forward. The universal ideal of spending half (51%) their time in the office and half working remotely (49%) transcends geographies, generations and parental status. And company executives agree, with almost eight in ten (77%) C-suite leaders saying businesses will benefit from increased flexibility.
End of the 9-5?
Another stark finding could signal the end of the hours-based contract and 40-hour week. More than two thirds (69%) of workers are in favour of “results-driven work”, whereby contracts are based on delivering against business needs rather than working a set number of hours. A high proportion of C-suite executives (74%) agree that the length of the working week should be revisited.
Reinventing Leadership
The pandemic has also demanded a new set of leadership competencies and these expectations are expected to accelerate a reinvention of the modern-day leader. Emotional intelligence has clearly emerged as the defining trait of today’s successful manager, but the soft skills gap is evident. Over a quarter (28%) of those questioned said their mental wellbeing had worsened due to the pandemic, with only 1 in 10 rating their managers highly on their ability to support their emotional health.
New skills for a new era
In a similar nature to flexible working, the findings demonstrate a universal appetite for mass upskilling. Six in 10 say their digital skills have improved during lockdown, while a further two thirds (69%) are looking for further digital upskilling in the post-pandemic era. A broad range of skills development were identified as important by the workforce, including managing staff remotely (65%), soft skills (63%) and creative thinking (55%).
The trust equation
Finally, the findings highlighted the importance of sustaining trust in the new working world. Companies have risen to the challenge of supporting their people during the crisis, and as a result, trust in corporations has increased. In fact, 88% say that their employers met or exceeded their expectations in adapting to the challenges of the pandemic. And with this increased trust comes increased expectations. While the future of work is a collective responsibility, 80% of employees believe their employers are responsible for ensuring a better working world post-COVID and resetting norms, compared with 73% who say the government is responsible, 72% who agree it is an individual responsibility, and 63% who believe it is in the hands of labour unions.
For more information:
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Download the Resetting Normal: Defining the New Era of Work full report here.
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Follow us on social #ResetNormal for updates
About the Spring Professional
Spring Professional is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adecco Group, the world leading workforce solutions company. Our focus is exclusively on the permanent recruitment at the middle to senior and executive search level. We bring great people to great organisations across 23 countries and 90 offices worldwide.
Spring Professional is a technical recruitment company specialising in Engineering, Information Technology and Life Sciences supported by Supply Chain & Logistics, Finance & Accounting, Human Resources, Legal and Sales & Marketing across Asia. As part of the global leading company, Spring provides professional talent recruitment solutions with a diversified range of value-adding services including sourcing intelligence, digital advertising and talent assessment.
We believe in our unique values of Expert, Consistent, Brave and Caring, making Spring Professional a great place to work.
About the Adecco Group
The Adecco Group is the world’s leading HR solutions company. We believe in making the future work for everyone, and every day enable more than 3.5 million careers. We skill, develop, and hire talent in 60 countries, enabling organisations to embrace the future of work. As a Fortune Global 500 company, we lead by example, creating shared value that fuels economies and builds better societies. Our culture of inclusivity, entrepreneurship and teamwork empowers our 35,000 employees and we are proud to have been consistently ranked one of the 'World's Best Workplaces' by Great Place to Work®. The Adecco Group AG is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland (ISIN: CH0012138605) and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ADEN) and powered by nine global brands: Adecco, Adia, Badenoch & Clark, General Assembly, Lee Hecht Harrison, Modis, Pontoon, Spring Professional and Vettery.
For further information please contact:
Spring Professional Marketing: Marketing@springasia.com