7 clues to face the Post-Pandemic Era challenges at work

06 May 2023 | Newsworthy

The COVID-19 pandemic has radically transformed the way we live and work, creating new challenges for businesses.

Although the difficulties that arose due to sanitary restrictions were gradually finding solutions with the help of technology, globally this represented learning, both for employers and employees.

Mitigate some abuses

Because of these new remote and hybrid work models, working policies and laws had to adapt. In Mexico, during 2021 the Federal Labor Law was reformed in order to regulate remote work. With this, paid activities outside the traditional workplace had a regulated framework for employers to follow, which helped mitigate some abuses that affected labor relations.

Then, in 2022, another reform initiative to the same law was looking to reduce daily working hours from 8 to 6, based on positive results from foreign companies that, in addition to improving employee productivity, managed to reduce labor and operative costs and increase sales.

Today, a large part of companies continue to operate under these new policies because of all the benefits that they entail; however, this doesn’t exempt us from difficulties. In this post-pandemic era, some of the most common problems of these changing labor dynamics are:

1. Adaptation to hybrid and remote work. This change was (and still is) challenging for employees who must balance the demands of work with family and personal responsibilities. Additionally, communication and collaboration can be difficult in a remote work environment.

2. Post-pandemic fatigue. The pandemic has caused stress and anxiety for many workers. Fatigue is a state of emotional and physical exhaustion that can affect a person’s ability to perform their tasks effectively.

3. Cybersecurity. Remote work has led to an increase in Cybersecurity risks. Employees working from home may be using personal devices that are not adequately protected, and may be more vulnerable to phishing and malware attacks.

4. Balance between work and personal life. One of the downfalls of remote work was blurring personal and working time and spaces. Employees started to work longer hours, which can have a negative impact on people’s health and well-being.

5. Productivity management. Without constant monitoring, it can be difficult to measure performance and ensure that objectives are being met.

6. Dignified vacations. Many employers consider that working from home implies less wear and tear, so they don’t give their workers the opportunity to rest and disconnect from work properly.

Businesses today face unprecedented challenges in adapting to changes in work habits, employee expectations, and new health and safety regulations. To successfully cope with this new reality, it’s necessary to take proactive steps and adopt flexible and adaptive approaches.

Here are some recommendations for companies to overcome these difficulties.

1. Establish clear hybrid work policies. Clearly define your policies, including the combination between remote and in-person work, flexible hours, and expectations for communication and collaboration. These policies must fall within the regulations established by the government so that people’s labor rights are respected.

2. Provide psychological support to employees. Offering support resources for managing stress and anxiety, such as counseling and mental wellness programs, will encourage open communication and mutual support among employees. In addition, effective communication channels must be established to promote collaboration between employees, both in remote and face-to-face work.

3. Strengthen Cybersecurity measures. Having up-to-date security protocols to protect company information and systems, as well as providing ongoing Cybersecurity training to employees and promoting good remote work security practices can prevent data theft scenarios.

4. Encourage work and personal life balance. Work schedules should be respected and employees are encouraged to take time off when necessary.

5. Set clear and measurable goals. Defining clear and measurable objectives for employees and establishing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms will ensure compliance. It’s important to provide tools and resources for time management and efficient work.

6. Provide professional development opportunities. Encouraging continuous learning and the acquisition of new skills allows for more trained personnel, no matter if it’s in a virtual or in-person environment.

7. Maintain open and transparent communication. Communicate about company policies changes and updates to employees. Listen to their concerns and suggestions as well, this will help find solutions that benefit everyone.

The post-pandemic situation continues to evolve, so it is important for companies to be flexible and open to changes in the work environment so that they can adapt better. Having a proactive and receptive approach to changes, in addition to adjusting policies and measures, will become key to creating a healthy and productive work environment in this new era.