The autonomy of employees to do remote work, hybrid work, or in-office allows them to become more productive, depending on their preferences. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the workforce is necessary to be remote due to lockdowns from various locations. The transitioning to the new normal over the course of the following years also changed the work structure. Can you believe that people have become more flexible at working, whether at home or in-office, since the loosening of restrictions? It is in fact a boon but its importance in understanding the adaptation is intriguing.
The complexity of being in-office work is the travel and additional expenses for the fare in using a public transportation or fuel for private car; yet it is the norm. Working in-office gives more room for in-person interaction and effective communication, better management of employees, and monitoring of progress in projects. Meanwhile, numerous employees found comfort in remote tasks since there is only the need of a good and stable internet connection, a PC or laptop, and communication via Skype, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams.
Reflecting the productivity and adaptability of employees before the pandemic, it is considerably balanced. The circle of entering a new job after graduation or loyalty to the company for decades is natural and the feeling is unchanging. However, the adaptation to hybrid work wherein employees are working from home while managing their home life is difficult. Responsibilities at home and at work are separated for many reasons: easier distractions when at home, mixing tasks would not occur, well-managed time and tasks to accomplish separately, etc. But the pandemic is unexpected which calls for a sudden shift to remote or hybrid work and closing establishments.
Compliance officers may deal with further changes as the pandemic continues since they handle, manage, and regulate the potential new rules and regulatory standards to avoid noncompliance. Considering hybrid work is crucial because it is being normalized as compared to working in-office. There is the uncertainty of when the pandemic will end and it is inevitable workers would likely stay at home comfortable rather than going through the challenges of going to the office. More so, internal management is more efficient in-person but the shyness is fostered when more stay at home to work. There are many things for companies that they must consider with the imbalance of employees choosing remote, hybrid, or in-office but it should not stop compliance taking in place.
The ways in adapting effectively in spite of changes are proper communication between employer and employees, setting clear expectations and goals, keep everyone informed of the changes such as through memorandums or notices, offering rewards or benefits, and create a team building plan to keep the company together. It is a challenge to continuously adapt but it is reassured that compliance officers are there to also help in managing and knowing the risks, especially with the current hybrid work setup.