Post-pandemic working will need creative thinking

19 July 2021

Following ‘Freedom Day’ on 19 July 2021, which lifted the majority of the lockdown restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there will be pressure to create working environments that meet individual employee needs, according to research from Aviva. 

The research showed that: More than a third (35%) of employees feel the pandemic has improved their work/life balance, while a fifth (20%) have been negatively impacted.

Women were more likely to report a negative impact on their work/life balance (24%) than their male counterparts (16%) and more likely to feel that life has become more challenging over the last six months.

There was also a division between men and women when it comes to hybrid working. While more than two thirds (69%) of employees believe flexible working will play an important role in future career choices, more than half of men (52%) feel the most productive hybrid set up would involve three or more days in the office, compared to 44% of women who thought the same.

Women were also more concerned about burnout (46% vs. 35% of men) and less likely to feel that hard work entitled them to take ‘me’ time.

Debbie Bullock, wellbeing lead at Aviva, said: “The journey towards the workplace of the future has been accelerated by the pandemic, from decreasing office space and increased homeworking to widespread digitisation and non-linear careers.

“Employees will look for something in return to encourage them back to the office, and employers must ensure offices become a destination for collaborating, mentoring and socialising to rebuild relationships. It is also vitally important that people are treated as individuals, rather than employers trying to impose a one-size-fits-all approach.

“The pandemic may have been a collective experience, but the impact has been fragmented in so many ways, with women especially facing particularly acute stresses from the blurring of lines between home and work.

“An always-on, ever-present culture is guaranteed to end with people’s batteries depleted, and it is essential that employers recognise long-term productivity is only possible if you make space for wellbeing to flourish at work. Businesses who choose to plough on regardless will discover to their cost that if you can’t make time for staff wellness, you will be forced to make time for illness and live with the repercussions.”

Professional Paraplanner