Work is something you do, not a place where you go !

Pic credits - https://cdn.smartrecruiters.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/telecommuting.jpeg

Work is something you do, not a place where you go !

Millenials will make 50% of our workforce by 2020. Millenials are reshaping the workplace.  Companies ability to attract, motivate, retain and develop young leaders will make or break your company in the coming years.

After competitive pay and benefits, the top things employees say are very important in a potential job are: “being able to work flexibly and still be on track for promotion” .Workers around the world want the option to work flexibly– without penalty – Ernst and Young study highlights.

There has been numerous studies and research on benefits of Telecommuting. The reward of telecommuting is high: increased productivity, happier employees, and cost savings (which you can invest into building a better business). Then why do we see only a handful of Indian startups and few MNCs adopting Telecommuting work culture?

It is the cafeterias which offer free Wi-Fi, which is the birthplace of innovative, creative products and services as many youngsters, startup founders believe in anytime anywhere working.  Visit any cafeteria in Bangalore and you will witness the energy and passion of youngsters.

On the other hand HR practitioners in large organizations roll out one HR initiative after the other and scratch their brains to engage disengaged workforce.

Telecommuting (work from home or from any other place other than office without being able to commute long distance) isn’t a new phenomenon, it has been in existence for decades. However, telecommuting is gaining popularity amongst startup cultures. Startups know what motivates young workers.

Is Telecommuting a critical tool in your Talent Acquisition Strategy? If not, then be prepared to loose the best breed of talent to Startups which know the pulse of Millennial Mindsets well. Amongst other perks and benefits, flexi –work, telecommuting is offered as a choice to Millennial. It is a tool which startups use well.

Then what prevents large organizations to think about how to make their workplaces more flexible and employee- friendly?  If organization values Putting People First, then do listen to the voice of your customer – key talent in the market. They are demanding workplaces to become bit more flexible. Start at policy level, put telecommuting / flexi-work policies in place.  Commission a project team that will look at several factors to implement Telecommuting at your workplace – 1. Policy angle 2. Manager Enablement 3. Infrastructure requirement 4. Culture Building 5. Collaborative Mindset

But has remote work lived up to the hype? In some organizations, yes. IBM, Automattic (the creator of WordPress),Gitthub and the U.S. government are four good — and very different — examples.

Questions that client ask companies - why are you special? what is different with your talent? What do you do to retain top talent? how are you stacked up against competition? Are you employer of choice for top schools? for women etc?

Telecommuting is a choice that is sought after by talented women folks too. Many talented women drop out of workforce post maternity. Companies are planning to bring them back to workforce and leverage this talent pool. Telecommuting is the tool of choice to engage and attract Talented Women candidates too and make your workplaces more diverse and inclusive. Not only women, many Young Dads too seek this option to work from home and choose alternate lifestyle.

With major shifts in the workplace, such as the large increase in Millennials and the fading line between work and life, remote work will become an even more critical tool for recruitment and employee engagement.

Telecommuting is the #FutureofWork .  Are you preparing a Future ready workforce ? 

Think about it. 

 

90% employees want work from home but 70% Employers are not prepared .Survey of 800 employers https://t.co/FlJX2QL9nH @DPDilpreet #HR #India

— Ruchi (@rucsb) August 17, 2016