It is no question that the rise of COVID-19 has thrown a wrench into the gears of workplaces across the globe. From bringing entire businesses into digital realms through Zoom and other online methods, to incorporating government-mandated social distancing requirements into physical spaces, employers and employees alike have an overwhelming abundance of changes to follow. 

As any business owner might expect, this has sparked a global debate surrounding the current benefits many employees enjoyed before the rise of the virus, and how things might change as a result of it in the future. One of these changes involves the possible adjustment of employee benefits, as many employers have to make tough decisions when it comes to keeping workers well cared for without suffering from the effects of reduced profits. 

In this article, we will be reviewing some of the changes in benefits employees might soon experience as a result of COVID-19, and how both employees and employers can best prepare for potential workplace-wide modifications. 

Digital Tools

Now more than ever, society relies on a series of digital methods to maintain the same workflow and lifestyles people once enjoyed before the pandemic. From office meetings and classroom lectures conducted on Zoom calls to completing large-scale projects over shared online tools such as Google Docs, we have seen an unprecedented rise in reliance on the digital sphere. 

While much of this was sparked through pure necessity, it has also made both employees and employers realize the benefits of utilizing online resources to supplement their everyday workflow. From quick collaboration to nearly unlimited communication abilities, there is a distinct advantage of transferring business tasks onto laptops, phones, and the like. 

As such, it would be no surprise if employers began offering a wider variety of digital tools within their employee benefits packages, along with the proper training. After all, these resources have become nothing less than vital for businesses that wish to continue operations at full efficiency. 

Remote Working

Arguably one of the most substantial shifts experienced by workplaces worldwide is the introduction of remote working. From major tech companies to local retail shops, businesses who wish to survive COVID-19 economically have no other choice than to conduct almost all operations entirely online. As a result, employees who may have once conducted their work in enormous office spaces are now doing the very same thing in the comfort of their own home. 

Already, companies are responding to this change. Google has promised to keep their employees home until at least the summer of 2021, and Twitter announced that it will allow their employees who do not have jobs requiring physical presence to work from home for the near future. In fact, the San Francisco-based social media giant is reimbursing all employees who need a home office set up, and are supplying a variety of resources to help workers with the transition. 

For employees across the globe who were required to complete operations remotely, this sounds like a future that might soon become all too common. For one, many businesses have realized some jobs do not require employees to be physically present. While this presents many benefits for employees – from reduced commutes to overall comfort – it is also in the best interest of employers. With an emphasis on remote work, businesses might only utilize physical spaces during specific events, therefore reducing costs such as electricity, commute reimbursement, food costs, and more. Additionally, companies might not even have to rent out an expensive office building in the first place. 

As businesses weigh this discovery, it is more likely than not that employees will have extended options in their benefits package when it comes to completing their work remotely – even after the COVID-19 crisis has passed. While this may very well eliminate any benefits related to commute costs and the like, Twitter’s example should reassure employees that they will receive reimbursement for their home office set up.

A Shift from Permanent Roles to Flexible and Freelance Working Patterns

With the rise of remote work, the online realm has seen a particular uptick in freelancing services, with sites such as Fiverr and Upwork receiving more traffic than ever before as businesses scramble to transfer their services online. 

As remote work takes over, it is apparent that some roles may not require as much permanency as what was originally perceived. Once the crisis comes to an end and the world returns to at least some sense of normalcy, it would be no surprise to find businesses take this approach into account. 

As already mentioned, major flexibility adjustments due to remote work may be on the horizon. Employees could expect to have more than half of their workload be done remotely, while some businesses may transfer entirely online. This type of change greatly benefits freelancers as they can even work for more than one company at a time. 

Of course, there is a chance this affects how employers distribute benefits. Without permanent job positions, employees may see a cut to the previous number of perks they would have received otherwise. 

What Does This Mean for Recruiters?

As with any workplace change, recruiters from across every industry should stay alert regarding all alterations currently underway – and for those that are not yet fully implemented. Recruiters must now work with both employers and employees to understand the modifications made regarding benefit packages, as well as make careful observations to identify the shifts in standards across all global workplaces. 

While the future is more uncertain than ever, it is no surprise to learn that employers across the globe have already detailed rigorous plans for when the COVID-19 crisis comes to an end. Employees should prepare for significant changes and possibly more after the pandemic passes. Therefore, it is more likely than not that those benefits, just like everything else, will never be the same.