Working from Anywhere (WFA) – ‘Productivity’ levels of employees
There have been many profound shifts in the workplace fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic. Organisation have had to navigate the crisis by rethinking the way they work. The most impactful of these is the switch to employees working from anywhere.
The question raised by many, is how ‘productive’ have employees been during the last 468 days of lockdown. Laura Stack (MBA, CSP, CPAE, award-winning keynote speaker, bestselling author, and noted authority on employee and team productivity) states that “Productivity is simply output per unit of time. Efficiency is the best possible output per unit of time: i.e., doing things right. When you do the right things right, you hit your maximum level of efficiency and productivity”.
So, a key question is, ‘what do organisations mean when they say ‘productivity’ has increased?’
Many companies have indicated that they have seen higher levels of ‘productivity’ from employees due to not having to spend hours commuting to and from work and having more flexibility in working hours. Does this mean that they have been able to work longer? Does this mean they are giving more output? Does this mean more input? Does it mean effective output? Does it mean doing the right things right?
Another consideration is South Africa’s environment. Working remotely in 1st world countries has been reported as being successful as it is facilitated by excellent communications infrastructure and the availability of technology. While many South African organisation have done their best to ensure their employees have access to communications and technology to enable them to work from home, the reality is that good IT/Communications infrastructure is not accessible for all employees. This means that many employees have not been able to do their jobs effectively or efficiently, which surely has an impact on productivity.
Self-discipline is another consideration over the long term. Working remotely requires high levels of self-discipline. Some employees are self-motivated and disciplined and are working from home in a suitable environment and hence they get the right work done in the best time possible. But is this true for most employees? Many have children and/or pets who because they are working from home, need constant attention. Many are still trying to find the balance between work and home schooling. Many are working longer hours because of endless meetings. This may not be efficient or effective.
As the Covid crisis continues, many employees are suffering from what they are calling pandemic fatigue which is causing employees to lose their ability to be effective and meet company goals. (Mark Baker, founder and CEO of Mygrow, an online training platform for adult personal development)
Most employers state that the two biggest factors facing their organisation is:
- Employees state that they are working in silos with very little interaction with their co-workers.
- Trying to maintain the company culture whilst employees are working remotely.
What are your thoughts on working remotely and the impact it is having on your employees and culture of your organisation? The world has changed what is your company going to look like after lockdown?