A new survey by flexible working platform FlexCareers has found that a range of workplace factors are set to change following to COVID-19 pandemic including many linked directly to workplace safety such as employee hygiene, physical and mental health and overall wellness.
The company says that “safety culture will invade the office in the 2020s in the same way it did the worksite or the mine in the 1980s and 1990s, with a renewed focus not only on hygiene but also mental health and wellness.”
In a survey of 1622 employees across a range of employees in organisations, the company found that remote working and flexible working will become the new norm for many Australian businesses.
The FlexCareers report found “Throughout COVID-19, most organisations have adapted by using flexible work tools, proving that these work (minus a few video etiquette mishaps!) – which has been a major hurdle to overcome. Those who said “it will never work” have had an opportunity to now see it work.”
As the lines blur between work, home and travel, employees will expect more from their employers, as 45% of employees suffered mental health issues through COVID-19 with their employers supporting them through the experience.
Of the respondents, 89 per cent rated their future employer’s work health and safety policy as “important” or “very important” when assessing an employer, and more than half (53 per cent) stated they were “worried about office cleanliness and hygiene”.
The survey uncovered that workers were assessing companies’ health policies more seriously than ever before and there was an overwhelming preference for remote work, with only 5 per cent of workers wanting to return to the office completely.
Three strong themes have emerged from the FlexCareers research:
1. Workforce Health & Safety (WHS) – how are you going to keep me safe?
2. Flexible working practices – how are you going to let me work?
3. Learning Value Proposition (LVP) – what are you going to do to support my growth into the future of work?
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FlexCareers co-founder and chief executive Joel McInnes said employees wanted to know how their employer was looking after their physical and mental health while at work.
“They are asking, ‘How are you going to keep me safe and let me work flexibly if I need to?’,” McInnes said.
“More than two-thirds (68 per cent) of people we spoke to are looking to pursue professional education independently of their employer and even pay for it themselves, in order to secure against future job losses.”
With many workers worried about their job security and realising their skillset may not line up to future work opportunities, 18 per cent of employed people responded that they would be seeking a second income.
Forty per cent of workers are considering switching careers as a result of the pandemic and 45 per cent are aiming to switch industries entirely.
“As people assess their potential employer today, they’re assuming they’ll be made redundant in three years’ time,” McInnes said.
“They’re thinking; before you sack me, what skills can I expect from you hat will put me in a better position to face work in three years’ time.”
The FlexCareers platform connecting talented individuals such as parents, entrepreneurs, carers, adventurers and others simply seeking a more balanced life, with progressive employers offering flexible work
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