There is no denying that the Coronavirus has changed our lives forever. The way we think, the way we relate to each other and even the way we work has also changed. In particular, the way we used to work is not expected to be the same again for a long time.

In fact, the first studies are already coming out that look at how we will work from now on. The advent of Covid'19 forced most companies to send their employees home, establishing remote working as an almost ubiquitous modality. 

Now that the lockdown is over and teleworking has been proven and tested to work, employees are asking themselves: "Why do we should go back to the office? Many companies do not know how to answer these questions in a way that meets the needs of all parties concerned (employees and customers).

At Emergya, we wanted to anticipate 'a forced return to the office'. Therefore, we asked our teams what they wanted. The answers confirmed what we had already been sensing. Although some people would like a fully remote work mode, others would prefer to come to the office every day or almost every day. The fact is that the majority 63% - out of more than 300 people surveyed - would prefer a mixed-mode: remote work and office.

This finding may have been influenced by factors arising from the Covid experience. For example, although meetings, retrospectives and checkpoints worked as normally during the months of confinement, the teams admit that it is better to carry out certain activities in person. They also consider that, from time to time - once or twice a week -, it would be ideal to hold more direct meetings between team members or the rest of the people in the company itself, to continue working on the cohesion that is so characteristic of Emergya. After all, at Emergya we are driven by people, and maintaining this connection is crucial to us. 

This response only reinforced the plan we have been working on since the beginning of the pandemic at Emergya: the 'Presence of Value'. This proposal invites us to decide which environment is more comfortable and safe for our teams to work. This plan also means leaving offices as an option for the person who wants to work in them daily, but preferably as meeting spaces where they can add value with other people. 

"This information has been very useful for the ongoing redesign of the new offices. We are constantly working on adapting them to the requirements of the pandemic. At present, like all companies, we have restricted uses, signage, protective measures, etc. In this regard, months ago, we set up a committee at the Infrastructure level, which meets every two weeks to adapt to the needs arising from the current situation. Once this global health crisis would finish, the plan is also focused on the design of future spaces. In addition, we are so excited about preparing what our new spaces will be, without the current restrictions, thinking freely about what we want to do. That is, in those work and coexistence spaces that we feel proud of and that reflect our way of being and relating as a team", highlights Pilar Choza, Emergya's HR and Communication Director.
 

Interestingly, the data from our survey is so in line with recent findings from Adecco. Last May, the HR management company surveyed a total of eight countries, including Spain, to find out what type of work people preferred in companies. The study showed that for 77% of the Spanish people surveyed, the ideal model was the mixed model: remote and in-person work in the office. For many, remote work has become the only option after the health crisis. 

Similarly, another finding from the report is that 80% of respondents - globally - are demanding some levels of work flexibility in the wake of the pandemic. A similar percentage believe that the best way to achieve career advancement is a combination of remote and office-based working.

In terms of morale, the study also showed that Spanish workers, along with British, Italian and Australian workers, are the most motivated and comfortable with remote working. This modality allows them to better organize their personal and professional lives, reducing the level of stress and the rush of everyday life. 

Another report, this time by the company IT Trends, has shown that 16% of the people surveyed value teleworking as a way of saving on transport. In addition, they also highlight this way of working as it allows them to reconcile their personal and professional lives - both points also highlighted by our team in our survey. Similarly, 19% of respondents believe that remote working will lead to more motivated and satisfied employees by providing them with the flexibility that will allow them to better reconcile work and personal life - a point also highly valued by our staff. 

"For us, asking questions is the best way to define our path without making mistakes or, at least, getting as close as possible to what can work. That's why, although we can sometimes be a bit insistent on some aspects, Emergya often uses surveys to analyze situations because of possible changes to come or decisions to be made. But it is not the only feedback tool we use. But, using this way to conclude is, for us, the best way to move forward with more or less certainty. However, when it comes to people, there is no such thing as total security. This fact is something that we at HR value positively, as it is as disturbing as it is exciting. Therefore, we will have to continue analyzing and advancing according to the reality that presents itself to us", Pilar Choza, HR and Communication Director.