With remote work extended into the foreseeable future for many organizations, our partner Littler conducted the 2020 Employer Pulse Survey of nearly 1,100 in-house counsel, HR professionals and C-suite executives.
The survey found that employers have a renewed focus on employee well-being and company culture, and are taking additional measures to support their employees through these times, from maintaining remote workplace safety to communicating frequently with employees.
For organizations with remote workers, using virtual communication tools and eLearning enhances collaboration, elevating employee engagement and overall company culture. Organizations that embrace these practices can become more resilient to change today and into the future.
Now that most employers know they will be operating in a remote work environment for a while, their most immediate concerns involve the impact this may have on employee wellbeing and company culture. Addressing these issues – via technology tools, more flexible policies or otherwise – is a real opportunity for employers to better engage their employees and prioritize their health. At the same time, they must be prepared to navigate new compliance risks, be they around policies that may give rise to discrimination claims, wage and hour issues or any number of other areas.
Here are some of the key takeaways from Littler’s survey:
- Among respondents from businesses who haven’t had the majority of their workers on-site during the pandemic, 57% said they are continuing remote work at least through the end of the year. Meanwhile, 25% are gradually bringing employees back on a voluntary basis and only 18% are requiring more employees to return onsite.
- 81% of employers surveyed are at least somewhat concerned about the pandemic’s impact on employee mental health and well-being.
- 75% of employers are at least somewhat concerned about maintaining company culture, collaboration and employee loyalty in a remote work setting.
- 83% of employers are taking a cautious approach to reopening to accommodate employees who prefer to work remotely due to safety concerns or other situations, such as school closings or having to care for elderly family members.
