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How has our Approach to Work Changed since the Pandemic?

Tess,   4th October 2021

How has our Approach to Work Changed since the Pandemic?

Our approach to work has shifted since we were first asked by the Government to work from home. Working from home has had an impact on both employers and employees. It has altered how we feel, what we think, and what we want. From not only our work lives, but from life in general.

Those who thought it impossible for employees to productively work from home, were quickly faced with no other choice. They soon realised employees adapted well to working from home, and that a full-time office wasn’t a necessity.

Employees on the other hand, began to prioritise their wellbeing. With only 29% of Gen Z stating that a competitive salary and benefits were key to their engagement. In fact, 26% of employees changed jobs during the pandemic because they didn’t feel their employer offered enough support for their wellbeing. And about 1 in 4 people still identify support for well-being as a key motivator.

The key is for employers to proactively engage with their staff. To understand what is important to their employees and overall career. Employees on the other hand need to be their own advocate. Not just expecting their employer to know what is best for them without telling them.

Lockdown may be over, but the pandemic has had a lasting effect on the workplace. In this blog we will look at some of the different ways our approach to work has changed in a positive way, for both employers and employees.

How Employers Approach to Work has Changed:

The role of the office 💼

Before the pandemic, many employers felt that the office was critical to effectively measure the productivity of its staff. Those who didn’t feel that flexible, or hybrid working was an option for their business, felt the need for everyone to be in the office 9-5. Companies would pay a fortune for a full-time office, competing for town centre spaces and paying over the odds for parking.

However, since Covid-19, companies across the world have had to adapt to working from home if they want their business to survive. Since the pandemic, only 1 in 5 employers have reported a decrease in productivity since moving to remote working. And by 2023 a recent poll suggests 2 in 5 Employers will embrace hybrid working.

This shows that the role of the office has significantly changed since the beginning of 2020. Employers are no longer asking, or expecting, their staff to be in the office 9-5, 5 days per week. Instead, they’re operating a more flexible, hybrid way of working.

Measuring productivity 📈

The overnight shift to working from home has created an opportunity for employers to become clear on the goals and results that yield productivity. Gone are the days where productivity was measured based on the hours worked. Since the pandemic, employers have had to find new and innovative ways to measure the productivity of its staff.

Managers are now measuring staff productivity based on the quality of work produced, and the results achieved, rather than the number of hours worked. This is a much better way to measure productivity, because the quality of work and the morale of the team will be higher.

Employee benefit schemes

As we mentioned earlier, employees are treating their mental health and wellbeing as a priority post-covid, with 51% putting their work-life balance at the top of their list. This means that employers are having to realign their benefit scheme to suit a post-pandemic work force.

Some bigger businesses have implemented a Covid-relief programme, this includes things such as private healthcare, extended sick pay, and family care packages. Removing free tea and coffee and standard pensions from their benefit lists (as these aren’t benefits), employers are beginning to path the way to creating a more unique EVP. Read more about why your EVP is important here.

How Employees Approach to Work has Changed:

Flexible/Hybrid working 🏠

Many employees have embraced working-from-home and have enjoyed a more flexible approach to work. Going forward, a recent study suggests that 75% of employees would like a hybrid working model, with 4/5 employees wishing to work-from-home at least 2 days per week.

As work/life balance becomes key in many people’s lives, flexible working is a necessity for their wellbeing. More and more employers are adopting a hybrid working model, with some continuing to work from home full-time.

Wellbeing and Mental Health ❤️

As we’ve mentioned throughout this blog, since the pandemic, employees value their mental health and wellbeing above all else. Infact, 48% of employees feel their employer has a responsibility to look after the wellbeing of them and their families, and 62% would feel more motivated in a workplace if this was the case.

Therefore, employers who provide extra support to their staff are placing themselves as front runners in a candidate driven market. This is something employers need to look at and understand that an increase in salary isn’t enough.

Cultural norms and values 🗣️

Since 2020, employees desire to work for a company whose values align with their own increased dramatically. Research suggests that 74% of employees expect their employer to become more involved in cultural debates. A recent survey shows that employees are 20% more engaged when the business they work for acts on social issues and have much higher job satisfaction.

Due to recent protests, demand for employers to act has only become more urgent. In fact, 68% of people would consider quitting their current job to work for a company with a stronger view.


It’s clear that since the pandemic our approach to work has changed, for both employer and employee. Employers have had to adapt to new ways of managing and engaging their teams, and employees have had more time to work out what is truly important to them.

Going forward, employers and employees will need to work together to create new ways of working, implementing new structures and objectives, whilst maintaining the same level of motivation and work ethic.

At GB Solutions we pride ourselves on the level of service we give to both our clients and our candidates. If we can assist you in any way, whether you’re struggling to find a job that suits you, or are unable to find a candidate that’s the right fit for your business. Email us at: hello@gbsolutions.co.uk