On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic. By that time, it had already caused 4,291 deaths in in 114 countries. In the roughly 1,400 days since, COVID has taken its toll in human loss and suffering, and has forever changed our culture. The pandemic has had a convulsive impact on the workplace as well, with the foundations of how and why we work being shaken.
Four Ways COVID Changed Employment
Remote Work Surges
According to a study by Gallup, 56% of full-time U.S. workers said they don’t have to work in the office because the pandemic was proof they can do their jobs from home. Since 2019, remote work has moved from a novelty to a necessity to a new reality.
Businesses must now come to grips with the fact that candidates are shortlisting companies that provide remote work opportunities. According to FlexJobs, almost 45% of millennials and 62% Gen X workers’ said their ideal arrangement is 100% remote.
Employees Crave Feedback More
It may seem like a contradiction, but employees surveyed post-COVID say getting regular feedback is crucial to staying engaged at work. It’s not that those who prefer remote work want to be left alone; they just want the flexibility of managing how their work interactions take place. The Gallup study mentioned earlier found that employees want to have at least one meaningful conversation with their manager per week.
Work-Life Balance Becomes Priority 1
One of the biggest draws of remote work is the contributions it makes toward maintaining work-life balance. And that balance has skyrocketed in importance for potential employees since the start of the pandemic. Zippia research has shown 72% of workers believe work-life balance is a very important factor when choosing a job. On the flip side, 57% of job seekers say evidence that a new job would come with a poor work-life balance is a deal breaker.
The ‘Why’ Becomes as Important as ‘How Much’
Finally, in terms of a changed employment landscape, it’s particularly fascinating how COVID has reshaped the foundation of would-be employees’ motivation. In a piece for Time, Joanne Lipman wrote, “In a surprising phenomenon, people are not just abandoning jobs but switching professions. This is a radical re-assessment of our careers, a great reset in how we think about work.”
Lipman pointed to Pew research indicating added that found that 66% of unemployed people across a wide range of income levels have considered switching professions entirely. A big cause for this pivot is the desire to make a difference through what they do at work. In the case of one of the people she interviewed, this meant seeking a job that would allow her to combat climate change.
One Thing Hasn’t Changed – Mega Force
We are dedicated to helping employers navigate through the uncharted environment of the post-COVID job market. Whether you need talent now or are just wanting to pick up recruiting pointers, we can help. Contact us today.
