How Flexibility has Become the Standard

As the job market began its uptick following the hit it took during the pandemic, companies were left with open positions and the challenge of finding the right people to fill them. The fluctuation in the job market was a result of two things.

1.       People losing their jobs during the economic downturn amid the pandemic.

2.       Employees getting smarter about, and more committed to, not settling when it comes to workplace benefits.

As a result, the great resignation of 2021 commenced, and so did a mass exodus as people quit their jobs searching for a position that offered the job flexibility they were looking for.

When everything started to originally go down in March of 2020, most employers were left with no choice but to figure out a way to allow their employees to work from home if they hadn’t done so already. Heading into the pandemic, many companies offered remote working benefits, whether it was designated days of the week, some form of a hybrid schedule, or 100% of the time. As a result, we are now seeing people who are used to the all-day, everyday remote situation that many were forced into when stay-at-home orders were put in place.

Fast forward to the present day, and there is one overwhelming benefit that’s being sought out now, the option to work remotely. Following the experience we all had during the pandemic, employers and employees alike figured out how to make it work from a remote standpoint as needed. In addition, employees have gotten used to life in the remote world and the flexibility that comes with it, especially for working parents. As a result, companies not offering the opportunity to work from home are missing out on potential job candidates.

If you are a full-time professional, think about the number of hours you spend working. In some cases, you are seeing your colleagues more during the week than your actual family. And you’re not alone. That’s just the way it is when 40+ hours of your week are spent donning your professional hat. So, take that time and put yourself in a situation where you are around your family more often. That’s what the pandemic did. No matter how crazy it was at the beginning as we were all trying to settle in, and it was crazy, we saw our family more, and we were home much more.

What was supposed to be a two-week experience turned into a semi-new norm. As a working parent, being home to start dinner at a certain time without battling a commute on the way was refreshing. It was also nice to be home to help with things around the house as needed before or after work, again without the time spent commuting. And what about the realization of how productive we could be working from home? Anyone else out there think they get more accomplished working from home than in the office? You’re not wrong.

So, it makes sense why professionals are looking for remote-working opportunities, especially as we settle back into life. If you thought you were getting more done when the entire family was home and distractions were at an all-time high, when the kids got back to school or daycare, the possibilities became endless. And what employer wouldn’t want a more productive employee?

Is the ability to work from home something important to you? If so, has your employer followed suit? Share your thoughts by commenting below.