Covid-19 pandemic is unique in a way that it has forced the mankind to introspect, analyze and execute like nothing earlier. The world has seen profound organizational and societal shifts. The landslide shifts in project workforce management, physical and mental health have paved way to redesign the way of working and deliver value to the projects.
As organizations see a return of the workforce to the offices, opportunities open up for creating a new habitat for an optimal and symbiotic working. The last 2 years, saw technology as a "savior" and an "enabler" to get work going and save workforce from losing their jobs. However, one of the biggest challenges was integrating humans with the technology to create a shared and safe ecosystem of working. After all, regardless of the type of work model, its all about getting the value to the client
With the world on its way to resume "in office" working, return of workforce needs such as physical and psychological wellbeing; ethical implications of business/regulatory decisions, connection with the work, ethical conundrums in virtual working are paramount to address.
Would like to hear from you all on this. Saving Changes...
Ganesh KumarProgram ManagerBangalore., Karnataka, India
Hi Deepa,
Some companies had announced they will give off their office space and save on rentals, have forgotten what they said and have silently asked people to return to office.
One great thing that has happened is that, Companies have realised that, if at short notice, or during eventualities, anything which can restrict a persons travel to work, WFH as a model has been majorly a success. Earlier WFH existed for few days, now it can go on as regular. So there may not be a compelling reason to return to office.
Some that tops my thoughts are:
Focus will be more on productivity, deliverables and this may infringe on people's time, with extended working hours to complete the task. Use of technology to monitor activities while WFH. May lead to micromanagement, constant updates.
Not all dept/function will get to WFH, will create a sense of disparity/distrust.
Different comp and benefits, for such categories.
Career progression could be restricted for people who opt for WFH.
Team bonding will be missing - while at work and while travelling to work.
Team work will have a newer/additional definition while WFH and while working from office.
Contracts, rules and polices will be re-written, to include these variables.
Net of all this, it will be win win model for both companies and people in the days to come. A great bargaining tool.
...
1 reply by Dr. Deepa Bhide
Mar 14, 2022 4:47 AM
Dr. Deepa Bhide
...
Thanks Ganesh and that's a realistic and impressive list of what can happen. Thanks!
While all this happens, clients need to get adjusted to this new way of working. People, managers and organizations will slowly evolve into a new role and new way of delivery but like you said, at some cost - of time, cost or entitlements.
Saving Changes...
Gretta KelziOperations Manager/Ethics Insights Team| Esri Lebanon/PMIJdeidet Al Maten, Al Maten, Lebanon
Life is always evolving and changing constantly, people are adapting, sometime they are happy, some times they are forced.
For me, I find it easier to get back to something that was practiced in the past, yet, in the current situation, I think both employers and employees' flexibility should be in favor of reducing any challenges that will be faced, of any types. For a better way of working, Employers should respect employees and employees should be honest with employers. Saving Changes...
That was a good practice for those companies that have not understand the power of technology. Others may face with some drawbacks of remote working. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
Mar 08, 2022 10:07 PM
Replying to Dr. Deepa Bhide
...
I agree. People have now worked their way to get to a balance in their personal and professional spaces. The pandemic has forced them too. I doubt if they will now be ready for a pre-pandemic work. However, how will the organizations react to this?
There will be as many different organization reactions as there are organizations. There will be a spectrum of reactions, from intransigence--remember Yahoo's CEO decision?--all the way to flexibility. Saving Changes...
Raju RaoFounder & Principal| Xtraplus Learning & ConsultingChennai, Tn, India
Good discussion and relevant for today's times. My thoughts are
Primarily the culture of the organization is the key . There are organizations which are used to the command and control way of working .On the other hand we have those who are more decentralised and manage more by outcomes . Between these two there are variations .
The pandemic has shown the benefits of working online and this has to exploited .Benefits are flexibility for people and possibly lower costs for organizations as they need minimum office infrastructure .
IMHO A two day office face to face work per week in the office would optimum with 3 to 4 days online. So, those organizations that prefer a command & control could target for a minimum 2 days work offline and those who are comfortable with flexible working at least 1 day per week face to face.(or some such arrangement )
This could be generally applied irrespective of industry domain size or geography.
This way we could get the best of both the worlds. Saving Changes...
Thanks Thomas. The article, in my opinion, starts with a strong story of the points around workplace but then deflects to the equality and manager/leadership styles etc which have existed pre-pandemic too. Eg, managers making workplace an equal opportunity field or creating opportunities etc.
I was trying to read what exact challenges are presenting now or are likely to present now with the return to office of the workforce.
Any thoughts? Saving Changes...
Bryan ShelbyRetired| Retired and volunteering, having left "employment" behind!New York, Ny, United States
One effect on business relates to business travel. The pandemic forced businesses to recognize that a substantial amount of such travel was unnecessary, expensive, overly time-wasting, and harmful to the planet. From both the business and ethical perspectives, once things settle down, I think (and hope!) that it will be hard for businesses to go back to the old practices of flying employees thousands of miles for a two-hour meeting...
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1 reply by Dr. Deepa Bhide
Mar 14, 2022 4:51 AM
Dr. Deepa Bhide
...
Bryan, I agree. The travel, in most cases, was seen as entitlements. I think all these perks can go away saving the environment and yet, getting the work done. This will likely impact the project cost positively. Thx
Saving Changes...
Albert AgbemenuManaging Director| Seag Focus Ghana LtdAccra, Ghana
Hello Deepa,
Great topic. Talking about regulatory decisions. So, I just got engaged on a project about two weeks ago and there were some insurance requirements. These insurances included Public Liability Insurance (insurance against property damage and personal injury) and Automobile Insurance, among others.
The project involved architectural and engineering design activities. Hitherto Covid-19, these activities were performed at the client’s project site with travelling to and from office and residences. Now, we have decided to undertake the whole of the assignment virtually without any visit to the client’s location which is over 450 kilometres from our location. Even though we were originally under obligation to provide insurance covers for these two items, because we were now going to be working from home, there will be no possibility of any property damage or injury to persons on the client’s site as a result of our activities.
For the above reasons, there was no need for us to procure these insurances at high premiums cost to the client. This has resulted in cost saving for the client. New ways, Difference Risk Exposures, New World.
...
1 reply by Dr. Deepa Bhide
Mar 14, 2022 4:49 AM
Dr. Deepa Bhide
...
Thanks Albert. I agree, new contracts with pros and cons will need to exist. At the end of the day, the project will move and work out of a new ecosystem.
Some companies had announced they will give off their office space and save on rentals, have forgotten what they said and have silently asked people to return to office.
One great thing that has happened is that, Companies have realised that, if at short notice, or during eventualities, anything which can restrict a persons travel to work, WFH as a model has been majorly a success. Earlier WFH existed for few days, now it can go on as regular. So there may not be a compelling reason to return to office.
Some that tops my thoughts are:
Focus will be more on productivity, deliverables and this may infringe on people's time, with extended working hours to complete the task. Use of technology to monitor activities while WFH. May lead to micromanagement, constant updates.
Not all dept/function will get to WFH, will create a sense of disparity/distrust.
Different comp and benefits, for such categories.
Career progression could be restricted for people who opt for WFH.
Team bonding will be missing - while at work and while travelling to work.
Team work will have a newer/additional definition while WFH and while working from office.
Contracts, rules and polices will be re-written, to include these variables.
Net of all this, it will be win win model for both companies and people in the days to come. A great bargaining tool.
Thanks Ganesh and that's a realistic and impressive list of what can happen. Thanks!
While all this happens, clients need to get adjusted to this new way of working. People, managers and organizations will slowly evolve into a new role and new way of delivery but like you said, at some cost - of time, cost or entitlements. Saving Changes...
Great topic. Talking about regulatory decisions. So, I just got engaged on a project about two weeks ago and there were some insurance requirements. These insurances included Public Liability Insurance (insurance against property damage and personal injury) and Automobile Insurance, among others.
The project involved architectural and engineering design activities. Hitherto Covid-19, these activities were performed at the client’s project site with travelling to and from office and residences. Now, we have decided to undertake the whole of the assignment virtually without any visit to the client’s location which is over 450 kilometres from our location. Even though we were originally under obligation to provide insurance covers for these two items, because we were now going to be working from home, there will be no possibility of any property damage or injury to persons on the client’s site as a result of our activities.
For the above reasons, there was no need for us to procure these insurances at high premiums cost to the client. This has resulted in cost saving for the client. New ways, Difference Risk Exposures, New World.
Thanks Albert. I agree, new contracts with pros and cons will need to exist. At the end of the day, the project will move and work out of a new ecosystem. Saving Changes...
