The coronavirus pandemic has rocked the way we work, bringing widespread radical changes overnight. Remote working, virtual teaming and different communication approaches are the ‘new normal’.
From an employer’s perspective, finding innovative ways of managing workforce disruption could be a key part of surviving and thriving.
In addition to the humanitarian impacts of coronavirus, we are bracing for an economic backlash. A workforce made
up purely of permanent employees may no longer be a realistic or sensible option for many businesses, at least in the
medium term.
In some areas, insufficient or unpredictable pipelines will make it too expensive to keep permanent staff. In other cases, particularly in the context of essential industries such as health, utilities and food, the demands on staff are immense, and additional resources will be needed. In either scenario, a flexible approach to resourcing may be required.
Flexible workforces allow businesses to:
• quickly scale up and down in response to fluctuating work levels
• effectively onboard new skillsets, helping pivot business models and adapt offerings in response to changing consumer needs
• access a broader talent pool with diverse expertise and experience
• take agile, cost effective approaches to project or time-based tasks
• promptly backfill staff on leave (for example if staff members are sick or need to care for sick family members) The coronavirus pandemic has pressed ‘fast forward’ on changing the way we work. Utilising a flexible workforce may be one way your business can not only stay afloat during the crisis, but also recover and thrive well into the future.