As masks slip off faces and restrictions lift across the country, many workplaces are also switching on the office lights. A return to the office might be a welcome relief to some, but the surge of resignations and employee compromises we saw in 2020/2021 showed us that many aren’t content to return to the rigid 9 to 5 structures that we used to work within.
As COVID-19 forced businesses to retreat from office buildings into the digital space, employees began to challenge the idea that work-from-home was “less productive” or “unsustainable.” Since businesses had proven that they could successfully switch to virtual work, many were left wondering “why can’t we keep doing it this way?”
This has led to a mass migration of workers from 9 to 5 office jobs into the vibrant and exciting new world of remote work. By moving into the remote workspace, people are motivated to find their passions and make space for pursuits outside of the workplace.
We call this movement The Great Resignation: where people are leaving jobs that don’t offer the flexibility they need to pursue these life choices. This means that, even though we can return to the office full-time, there are plenty who don’t think that we should. Hybrid work is the new expectation and workplaces that can’t offer that are rapidly becoming less appealing to the post-pandemic workforce.
To state the obvious; the pandemic changed the way the workforce operates.
That traditional power structure that stood with the employer has now shifted to the employee. It’s not about what benefits you get in the office anymore (Casual Fridays be damned). More than ever, the worker is looking for flexible work that fits into their ideal lifestyle…and they’re getting what they want. In a competitive economy that favors the labor force, businesses need to make themselves an attractive option for this new kind of workforce.
Work-from-home has also opened the door for skilled laborers that used to exist on the fringes of the workforce. Take, for instance, new parents who’d traditionally forgo pay for longer parental leave, families who struggle to find adequate childcare, or disabled people who previously faced barriers in office setups and work hours.
According to a Microsoft report in 2021, over 70% of workers want a workplace that offers flexible remote work arrangements. This desire trumps higher salary packages, meaning that employers are going to have less success attracting employees with money than with flexible work options going forward.
The Growth Gurus have operated as a virtual-first workspace since our inception in 2017. When Founders, Matt and Hayley Coleborne, moved from the city to the small town they now call home, they knew that finding skilled workers would be near impossible if they only searched in their own backyard. Hayley said that offering flexibility is the key to finding the right people.
“Flexibility was really important to us when establishing our business and it’s a big factor for employees these days. Having a culture of flexibility at the Gurus means we can attract highly skilled talent,”
Hayley Coleborne
“Having a remote team gives us access to talent from all around the world.”
By the time the pandemic hit, Growth Gurus were well versed in making virtual workspaces, well, work! This included not just finding the right level of professionalism and motivation, but developing a culture of transparency and trust with employees.
“Managing remote staff can be complicated when there isn’t any physical oversight,” Hayley said.
“For us, trust is crucial. Having a good tech stack for project management and communication, and regular check-ins via zoom, ensures that we stay connected. It also helps fuel collaboration between colleagues and management.”
With 65% of workers wanting to feel more connection with their teams, culture was a big part of the Gurus mission when building a virtual-first team. Client Partner Guru, Olivia, spoke about her experience with the team.
“With the flexibility of a remote-based environment, but with the spirit of a tight-knit office community; working at the Growth Gurus makes me passionate and excited to log on to work every day!”
Crucially, a study conducted by Flex Jobs found that remote workers are around 24% happier in their jobs than those in physical roles, and feel 14% more valuable to their team, leading to increased happiness as well. Statistics reveal that when you have a high rate of satisfaction amongst employees, they are more productive, less likely to take time off and are more loyal to the company they work for.
Client Partner Mary mentioned the warmth she feels when she logs in – even if she can’t see her colleagues face to face.
“The Growth Gurus fosters a genuinely supportive team environment so we can be true ‘Gurus’ in all aspects of everything we do,”
Mary Palamarevic
“Professionally, I’ve always been encouraged to fully use and expand my professional skills and expertise while having the opportunity to work with a wide and dynamic range of e-commerce clients. The Growth Gurus uses a perfect mix of business apps that allow us to connect and collaborate with our clients as well as work as a unified and effective team!”