Since COVID-19 hit, employees across the nation have adjusted to working from home full-time. As our country continues to reopen and get back to normal, many people are navigating how to tackle going back to the office. However, the pandemic showed us that working from home was completely possible and many organizations are trying to find a happy medium with the hybrid model that combines remote work and office collaboration.
The hybrid workforce is here to stay. Global Workplace Analytics estimates that 56% of U.S. workers have jobs that enable them to work from home at least part-time, and between 25% and 30% of the workforce will continue to work remotely multiple days per week when the year is over. It is crucial for companies to begin adopting these hybrid methods to invest in the wellness of their employees. By embracing this approach, companies will be providing their employees with the ability to achieve sustained productivity and engagement.
Physical Strain on Remote Workplace
It is no secret that as time goes on, humans are being burdened with more neck and back pain due to an online lifestyle. There is a growth in patients seeking physical therapy for head, neck, shoulder and back pain. Since the stay-at-home orders were put in place, the New York Times reported 92% of chiropractors said that patients were having more neck/ back pain or other musculoskeletal disorders. This is expected to increase with surge in hybrid workplace modeling. This physical strain is anticipated to be a main issue for all businesses moving forward.
Provide employees with sufficient workstations
Many are quick to point out the cost saving benefits that remote work has on employers. However, employers are not necessarily providing employees with proper workstation equipment. This equipment is effective when it comes to employee productivity and efficiency. For example, reliable internet, height-adjustable workstation, alternate desktop display, or ergonomically sound chair. To attain maximum cost from an investment in providing these tools, it is important to train employees on proper uses. Did you know that as many as 93% of employees that have access to a height-adjustable workstation do not use them effectively? It is great to provide your employees with beneficial workstations or a stipend to purchase what they need; however, this method is not sufficient.
Establish engagement Strategies with your team
Empower your employees to do more than sit behind their computers. An excellent way to leverage an employee to take a hold of their health and productivity is to introduce gamification. This strategy is a process of combining something that already exists with gaming techniques. Gamification is commonly leveraged within companies to encourage new ways to engage, teach, reward, and retain employees. For example, employees who get the highest score on a company-wide assessment around workplace safety will earn company-branded swag of their choice. Another example could be whoever walks the greatest number of miles by a certain date receives a prize. Creating health and productivity challenges strengthens team bonds and individual performance which has an overall increase in productivity for your company.
Chase Fryhover serves as a Director at RETS Associates, a national real estate executive search firm. He can be reached at chase@retsusa.com
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