When the Coronavirus pandemic hit back in March, companies scrambled to adapt overnight. Although we’re all hoping to return to normal someday, the overall impact of COVID-19 will be long-lasting. Here’s a possible look into the workforce of the future.
COVID-19’s Impact on the Workforce of the Future
Employees Will Move from On-Site to Remote or Hybrid
For years employees dreamed of more flexible working options. However, most businesses hesitated to break away from the traditional eight-hour day, five-day on-site work week. After all, wouldn’t productivity drop? Widespread stay-at-home orders back in the early spring forced the issue. And surprisingly, several companies ended up embracing work from home options. Twitter said its workers could work remotely indefinitely and Shopify CEO Tobi Lutke declared “Office centricity is over.” (Fast Company, 2020) Nevertheless, other organizations mourned the loss of real-life, face-to-face interaction required to “build relationships, solve complex challenges, and generate ideas.” Therefore, Indranil Roy of Deloitte Consulting predicts a best-case hybrid workforce scenario “distributed across home, office and satellite offices.” (BBC, 2020)
Contract and Temp Work Will Become More Common
Recently, companies like Uber and Instacart have popularized the independent contractor model. Since contractors are 1099 workers, not W-2 employees, businesses don’t have to withhold income taxes or pay for unemployment. Thus, it’s much easier to expand and contract teams. Temporary workers provide similar benefits since temps are employees of the staffing agency, not the organization where they are placed. Throughout the pandemic, many businesses struggled to maintain their workforces due to lockdowns and fluctuations in demand. They laid people off, rehired them, and then worried about having to lay them off again. In an unstable economy, independent contractors and temps offer an attractive solution. Companies can bring in extra help as needed without making permanent additions to staff.
Ongoing Upskilling Will Become a Necessity
In the last few months, many employees had a crash course in technology. They had to master video conferencing platforms and collaboration software as well as other essential skills. Plus, Coronavirus accelerated the automation of repetitive tasks. With social distancing restrictions, businesses were forced to find ways to operate with as few employees physically present as possible. In other words, the “job-stealing robots” are here. (CNBC, 2020) As a result, both employees AND employers will need to prioritize upskilling and retraining to remain competitive in the modern marketplace.
Is Your Organization Trying to Build a Workforce of the Future?
Whether you’re looking for on-site or remote workers, temporary or permanent staff, BOS Staffing is here for you. Our recruiters place light industrial workers, office staff, medical professionals, and more in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and beyond. Let BOS help you solve your staffing challenges today!
