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A few months ago, we thought we could see the light at the end of the tunnel; lockdown restrictions had been eased and the eat-out-to help-out scheme was in full swing. However, COVID-19 cases are now on the rise again and there is even talk of a Tier 4 being added to the (somewhat controversial) government grading system.

It is safe to say 2020 has been a major curveball for most of us. COVID-19 has been disruptive in multiple ways, decimating some industries, and throwing others into unexpected growth. Either way, for the first time in a long time, every person in the world has something in common. But not only has it had unparalleled effects on jobs throughout the UK and beyond, but it has also forced people to adjust to a new way of working. The days of walking over to a colleague’s desk to discuss their weekend, work or Love Island has long gone. That walk is, now virtual and totally reliant on platforms such as Zoom and Skype.

Many people have been left wondering what the future of work looks like - what is the new “new normal” going to be? Will we ever talk shop over a latte and a shared pack of Percy Pigs again?

What Workers Think

The working-from-home lifestyle has split opinion almost 50/50. In the US, the consultancy group Grossman reported that 48% of US employees wanted to continue working from home, and Lewis Silkin uncovered that 25% of its respondents had received requests for homeworking to become a permanent feature of their work-life. TotalJobs has even found that 20% of people would agree to take a pay cut of up to 7% to be able to continue working remotely (probably not a compromise people should have to make though).

Surprisingly, almost all employers and employees have cited that their working from home experiences has been strongly positive - not only is work being done to its usual standards, but people are enjoying their new liberties, such as avoiding the busy morning commute and saving money on basic amenities. However, other studies have reminded us to consider the affect on mental wellbeing as some of us struggle with the social isolation working from home can bring. There is no denying that many people eagerly await a return to their office environment, whether it be for social reasons, not having an optimal workspace at home or due to communication concerns.

Going Virtual and Remote Work

Going virtual sounds simple. However, countless logistical and communicative issues can arise if the transition isn’t handled correctly. Historically, flexible or remote workers have unfairly been thought of as less productive, less committed and more difficult to manage, often due to the increased flexibility and temptations that come as a result of working from home. However, whatever your opinion may be on flexible work, you, or someone you know, has probably been forced to adapt to this way of life. This has forced employers and indeed employees, to confront some of these fallacies about different ways of working. Going forward, employers will need to distinguish how they can create a culture that to support flexible working. What’s more, we have realised that flexible work, in some form, can relate to a full range of professions, from full-time office workers to career freelancers, to, those who do an odd shift in a bar or anywhere in-between.

So how do we make this work. Well, environments in which flexible working has succeeded all seem to share the same traits:

• Trust – trust is earnt, they say, however flexible or remote work cannot exist without trust from the get-go. But with trust comes great responsibility…and accountability. Those three things are a powerful combination. Output - People being judged on productivity and end-results instead of availability or arbitrary working schedules
• Talking - Effective communication and reliability in every sense. Technology has gifted us with so many mediums to do this so, in many ways, this has never been easier
• Support - Supportive managers and people leaders who can coach and mentor AND who wholly believe in flexible working
• Shout about it - Jobs proudly being advertised as flexible. Not only does it promote the employer brand but it allows individuals to find roles that will fit their personal situation.

Flexibility is Vital Going Forward

Regardless of your opinion on working from home, the majority of employees have enjoyed their newfound flexibility and are keen to see it continue. For businesses, this flexibility can reduce expenditure in numerous ways - job satisfaction tends to increase, and as such, recruitment becomes less frequent. This can also remove the need for huge sprawling office complexes in some cases. Flexible and remote work is therefore not only cheap to set up, but can also save businesses money on operational costs. However, it is important to remember that, once we’ve departed from Planet Covid, flexible working does not equal social isolation. What will be left, hopefully, is perhaps less frequent but more meaningful and collaborative time with colleagues. Finally, employers should never forget what they’ve learnt; flexible working doesn’t just apply to contracted full-time jobs - it can include those who work part-time, job-share or those who do one-off gigs. In the wake of COVID-19, employers might be looking for people to fill more niche, part-time roles at a moment’s notice. Being truly flexible will make this a smoother ride.

The beauty of bounce is that you can hire for ANY amount of time, and for ANY position. We want to embody the idea of flexible working, not in a physical sense, but in a job sense

How bounce Can Help

If you are looking for ways to implement a flexible working schedule into your business environment, then you might want to consider bounce. bounce is an innovative new app that allows employers and job seekers to connect with each other. The beauty of bounce is that you can hire for ANY amount of time, and for ANY position. We want to embody the idea of flexible working, not in a physical sense, but in a job sense - do you want someone to cover a bar shift? bounce. Looking for an extra pair of hands for a week during a busy period? bounce.

bounce is for job-seekers and employers, so register and create a profile - it is even free to post jobs! You only pay a nominal fee when you want to connect to a candidate and even then the cost is minimal. So start expanding your network today. bouncing back from COVID isn’t going to be easy, but together, it’ll be easier. Join us at bounce-jobs.com to keep updated with everything bounce!