Inching Our Way Back

The pandemic showed us what is possible when it comes to overcoming insurmountable obstacles to get a job done. We are now clear on what we truly value and we accept that there are new skills we need to learn in order to succeed. 

America embraced new technology to make necessary adjustments, from Zoom to social media to online grocery shopping in order to prepare meals. Survival instincts led to innovation. The COVID pandemic challenged many businesses, and most importantly, these challenges led to new opportunities. The pandemic has accelerated market trends and bred innovations at astounding speeds.

Now that life is slowly opening up again, there are contradictory surveys hitting the news, blogs, and social media about returning to the office. The Morning Consult survey, first reported by Bloomberg, stated that out of 1,000 US adults polled in May, 39% said they would consider quitting if their bosses weren't flexible about them working from home. On the contrary, a February survey conducted by Wakefield Research involving 1,000 nationally representative U.S. full- and part-time office workers ages 18+, 85% of employees are looking forward to returning to the office in some capacity.

Thankfully, bringing employees back into the office may lead to increased productivity, less loneliness, and firmer boundaries between work and home life balance. On the flip side, some people are worried about transitioning back to the office. Work-from-home has provided people with a way to earn a living without risking exposure to the coronavirus. Many workers fear that they will be less safe if they’re forced to commute on public transportation and spend 8 hours a day in close quarters with colleagues.

What we do know is that COVID fundamentally changed the way we work! Many companies believe that there are huge growth opportunities resulting from the pandemic journey. Building and hiring teams that appropriately adapt in the marketplace has many leadership teams buzzing. Outsourcing recruitment services may be the best strategic move companies now need to embrace. Recruitment outsourcing is a game-changer for many organizations whose HR and/or Talent Acquisition departments are spread thin and need to focus on other important tasks. It is more essential than ever that companies hire the right employees while being highly sensitive to DEI expectations and recruiting firms focus on just that.

The time to wake up, get dressed, and go to the office is finally coming. Despite some variations in expectations about how the returns will roll out, most employees want to go back and companies want them back. The drive among workers to be among peers and colleagues is extraordinary. Although the full return is fluid, it seems we have turned a corner. It is therefore critical that employers invest in the proper technologies and resources to help them manage their space, hire the right teams and keep their employees safe.