Did 2020 Change the Workplace Forever?
Published march 25, 2021
Companies Report Real Attention to Flexibility, DEI, Mental Health
The profound events of 2020 will have lasting repercussions on the workplace, especially in the areas of flexibility; diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); and mental health support, according to survey results released Thursday from global outplacement and business and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
“In order to attract and retain the best talent, companies should embrace the technology that allows remote work and flexible work schedules. The commitment to diversity and mental health support that was brought to the forefront in 2020 will only help these efforts,” said Andrew Challenger, workplace authority and Senior Vice President of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
Flexibility & Remote Work
Over 84% of companies responded they are offering some flexibility to workers during this time. Of those, 64% report offering flexibility to all employees, and 40% are offering flexibility specifically to parents and caregivers. Nearly 13% report offering child care options during this time, and 23% increased paid time off offerings.
When asked if this flexibility will extend past the pandemic, 95% of companies reported some or all elements of the newly instituted flexibility will continue. Just 4% of companies reported they will eventually return to pre-pandemic routines. Related: 100% Of Surveyed Companies Will Mandate Masks (March 2021)
The survey was conducted online among 201 Human Resources executives from companies of various sizes and industries nationwide. Responses were collected March 2nd through March 12th, 2021.
Meanwhile, 6% of the 96% of companies that moved all or part of their workforces to remote work situations plan to return to their pre-pandemic remote work policies. Another 4% will not keep workers remote, and 5% are still determining what they will do. That means 84.2% of companies are retaining new remote work options for their teams.
Source: Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. ©
“Remote work is the work of the future. Positions that were previously thought to be perpetually in person, such as customer service or other client-facing roles, were successfully converted to remote positions during the pandemic. This will continue with the adoption of artificial intelligence and robotics in the coming decades,” said Challenger.
Racial Justice & DEI Efforts
While many companies were forced to convert in-person work to remote in order to continue operating, the racial justice protests caused many companies to rethink how they talk about race with workers and the policies they enact around diversity.
Over a quarter of the companies surveyed facilitated guided discussions about race directly due to the racial justice protests last summer. Another 19% of companies updated their current DEI policies, while 13% created policies. Nearly 4% of companies started DEI committees to respond, while 3% have begun a process to address race.
Nearly 60% of companies are actively working to develop diverse talent, and 26% said they recently recognized and promoted diverse talent.
Mental Health Support
The pandemic also brought mental health and the need for support into stark relief. Over 51% of companies responded they are making an extra effort to address mental health issues during this time, and 23% are taking a case-by-case approach. Just 2% of respondents said they are not addressing this issue with workers.
“The intense isolation created by the pandemic is doubtless impacting almost everyone on any given team. Managers should schedule regular check-ins with their workers to assess how they are doing; what outside factors may be impacting them, such as family or health issues; and whether workloads need to be adjusted to bring relief,” said Challenger.
“Mental health issues have too long been considered taboo, and it’s unfortunate that it took a global pandemic to give workers the impetus to talk about these issues more openly. But now that so many of us are enduring the same shared experience, companies should highlight mental health support and create an environment where workers can freely discuss their issues and how their jobs may play a role,” he added.
See our latest survey results Challenger Post-COVID Return to Work Plans, March 2021
Source: Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. © in an online survey conducted March 2nd through March 12th, 2021 among 201 Human Resources executives.
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Nike Closes Its Offices For One Week To Give Employees A Mental Health Break
Nike Closes Its Offices For One Week To Give Employees A Mental Health Break https://t.co/ipWzRR8VTx
— Black Enterprise (@blackenterprise) August 31, 2021
The global apparel company Nike, is giving its employees a mental health break, closing its corporate offices for the week so employees can “enjoy additional time off to rest and recover.” …
Nike isn’t the only company giving workers more time off. According to a Challenger, Gray & Christmas survey, Linkedin, Bumble, Mozilla and others are offering week-long paid breaks to improve mental health and energy.
Our #ChallengerSurvey showed the pandemic also brought mental health and the need for support into stark relief. Over 51% of companies responded they are making an extra effort to address mental health issues during this time, and 23% are taking a case-by-case approach. Just 2% of respondents said they are not addressing this issue with workers.
Corporate America is in need of a reboot.
More than 84% of companies are offering some flexibility during the pandemic, according to a new survey from global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
More than just remote work: How companies can keep women in the workforce #investinyou (In partnership with @acorns.) https://t.co/jFbS1hrB3V
— CNBC (@CNBC) March 26, 2021
Pandemic silver lining? Employers start to recognize importance of caregiving benefits
In a recent survey of more than 200 HR executives, Challenger, Gray & Christmas found that 84 percent said they are offering workers more flexibility, with many making changes specifically in response to workers’ caregiving obligations. Two out of five reported that they specifically have extended greater flexibility to parents, with 23 percent expanding paid time off and 13 percent offering child care options.
Of those, the vast majority — 95 percent — said they plan to make some or all of these changes permanent. “I think it was very eye-opening for employers,” Clayton said. “It forced them to look at their policies and procedures overall.”
This is a paradigm shift, experts say, that is long overdue.
Pandemic silver lining? Employers start to recognize importance of caregiving benefits. https://t.co/p9XF6oMw6E
— NBC News (@NBCNews) April 7, 2021
There Is This Opportunity For All Of Us’: How Companies Can Keep Women In The Workforce
More than 84 percent of companies are offering some flexibility during the pandemic, according to a new survey from global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. It polled 201 human resources executives from companies of various sizes and industries nationwide March 2 to 12. When asked if the flexibility would extend past the pandemic, 95 percent reported some or all elements would continue. About 84 percent said they are retaining remote work options for their teams.
Download Full Survey Results
