As we emerge from lockdown it feels right to take some time to reflect on what's been good about the last 3 months and what we might want to carry forward to the new normal.
It’s been a tough few months but many start-ups seem to be surviving. Teams have pulled together to solve problems, staff have proven themselves trustworthy and committed, leaders have adopted new management styles.
Things that would have been deemed impossible just a months ago are now a daily reality. This could be the catalyst for seismic changes in how we live and work.
I’ve worked from home for 2 years with start-ups that are entirely or partially virtual, so here’s a handy list of 8 reasons that you might want to consider keeping your team virtual post-lockdown:
1. Sickness – (ironic huh?!) I’ve had far fewer coughs, colds, sore throats etc and those I have had have been milder and shorter since leaving the office environment. If the changes to SSP stay in place (as I suspect they will do) this could save your business a tidy sum.
2. Productivity – even my friend, who’s currently parenting 3 kids under 11 on her own, says that she’s at least as productive working from home as she is in the office! And she’s not alone; in a recent study of 10,000 global employees, 69% of respondents reported that they are more focused and productive when working from home.
3. Cost Reductions – with your team working from home having a permanent office space may be a thing of the past. Smaller or flexible working spaces will save you a huge chunk of cash. That photocopier can go too, the cleaning contract, and the stationery bill will be practically non-existent!
4. Your Staff Save Too – no travel, less childcare, fewer coffees, not forgetting spending £8 on a sandwich and bag of crisps for lunch!
5. Access to a new talent pool – by opening your “virtual” doors to those unable or unwilling to commute to an office or work 9-5 you can access a new and valuable talent pool: gig workers, carers, stay-at-home-parents, differently abled, retirees etc.
6. Logistics – figuring out how you’re going to zone the office, stagger working times, make sure the cleaners disinfect everything properly, sit 2m apart in meetings etc – letting your team work from home solves so many of these problems. You’ve already overcome most of the hurdles, laptops, remote access to servers, expectations around start times, dress codes etc it makes sense to capitalise on this.
7. Happier, less stressed staff – whilst not everyone loves working from home, many people are going to find shifting back to the old routine difficult having enjoyed an improved work-life balance since working remotely . Forcing your team back into the old established work routine is bound to cause stress and friction.
8. And on a personal level – with all the time you would have spent sniffing someone’s armpit on the tube you can exercise/pursue hobbies/spend time with loved ones/chill out in your pants watching boxsets…