Companies in South Africa realise they have to make major changes if they want employees to return to the office.
This is according to Chaim Bronstein, head of the commercial department at Firzt Realty, who recently concluded two significant transactions involving companies moving premises to provide a better work environment for employees.
“We’ve all seen the headlines about employees overseas threatening to quit or being willing to forego any promotions rather than being forced to return to full-time onsite work,” said the group.
“However, the reality in South Africa is that very few corporate employees can afford to do that, so what they are generally doing instead is negotiating more favourable working hours or conditions.”
“Many are now working on a ‘hybrid’ schedule, for example, which allows them to divide their work-week between the office and home.”
“Others are working onsite in the mornings and remotely in the afternoons. And an increasing number are persuading their employers to implement physical changes to make onsite work more attractive.
Moreover, one major company moved offices from Parktwon to Rosebank, allowing their staff to use the Gautrain to get to work.
Another moved into a new office whose premises offer a range of lifestyle benefits, including a fitness centre, a coffee bar, outdoor social spaces, and proximity to more shops and schools for working parents.
Bronstein said that corporate employers have four main reasons for wanting to reverse the major shift to remote work, which has become increasingly entrenched since the Covid-19 pandemic, which includes:
He says corporate employers have four main reasons for wanting to reverse the massive shift to remote work that has become increasingly entrenched since the Covid-19 pandemic. These are:
- Concerns about productivity.
- A desire for more direct communication.
- Worries about weaker corporate cultures.
- The cost of unused space.
That said, many employees don’t see things the same way. Several studies have shown that most remote workers are more productive at home, as they don’t have to spend time or energy commuting and can arrange their schedules to meet their family’s needs.
“So to them, a management concern about productivity can easily feel like a suggestion that they are not trusted to do their best work, reach their targets or meet their deadlines without constant oversight, and that is hardly likely to make them feel really good about their employers,” said Bronstein.
He also said that many employees argue that companies have other ways to encourage collegial bonding and corporate unity without requiring them to be in the office five days a week from 9 to 5
Moreover, workers who built and equip a home office because their companies asked them to may not feel sympathetic about unused office space.
“Resistance to a full-time return to onsite work is also coming from those who moved home post-pandemic and no longer live close to their workplaces.”
“Those who sold a second car because they were not anticipating having to commute anymore and those who love that they no longer have to commute because they have more time to spend with their families while still keeping up their work hours.”
“In fact, we believe it is the lifestyle benefits of remote work that companies will need to focus on and try to accommodate if they want to be really successful in attracting their most skilled and experienced staff back to the office.”