E. Latyšovič: It won’t be as easy to bring employees back to the offices as it was for “Amazon”
Yesterday, news spread across Lithuanian and international media that the U.S.-based company Amazon will discontinue its hybrid work policy and require its employees to work in the office five days a week. Does this mean that the predicted end of the era of remote and hybrid work models is starting to come true? Not necessarily.
Amazon’s case is not the first of its kind in the market. More and more large corporations are deciding to return to the pre-COVID-19 reality. The reasons are simple and understandable. Employers want to ensure that employees perform their assigned tasks during working hours, are always reachable, and communicate with colleagues to achieve set goals faster.
However, as demonstrated during the pandemic, it is possible to work effectively and smoothly, not only when all employees are physically present in the office. The most important thing is the employer-employee relationship, which should be based on trust and honesty. As long as both the employer and employees understand that the rule “work must be done during working hours” applies in the office and at home, remote and hybrid work models can successfully operate in almost any organization, provided the nature of the work allows it.
So why did Amazon decide to take such a step? It can afford to do so and is a globally recognized and attractive employer. Companies like Amazon are a dream workplace for many. The opportunity to list experience at such a company on one’s resume is highly appealing, as it opens up new horizons for current and future careers. Therefore, Amazon doesn’t have to worry much about whether this decision will negatively impact retaining current or attracting new talent. Most current employees will likely adapt to the changes to keep their attractive positions. Those who decide to leave Amazon will quickly be replaced by specialists willing to work from the office all week for such positions.
Simply Ordering Employees Back to the Office Is Not Enough
In today’s labor market, the call to work in the office for the entire week must come with additional benefits for employees. For example, recently, another company in the spotlight, Amazon, decided to bring its employees back to the office full-time. The company implemented additional measures to ensure a smooth transition, such as setting up a grocery store and even a daycare in the office building. Only larger companies can offer these and other similar benefits, such as a cafeteria, snack and drink bar, gym, showers, and laundry services, to their employees.
Organizations often need help making such drastic decisions in smaller markets, such as Lithuania, as this could potentially lead to losing talent. Thus, these employers have two options:
- Provide employees with additional benefits, such as a truly competitive salary and an exclusive benefits package, to compensate for the inconvenience of commuting daily.
- Accept that they will have to search for new talent from a significantly narrower pool of potential candidates, as employees are more likely to choose competitors offering remote or hybrid work opportunities.
Therefore, it is likely that most Lithuanian employers will only partially abandon remote work in the near future. This is good news for employees. However, it is essential to remember that these additional benefits are not mandatory. An employer who notices that remote work is harming the organization’s efficiency and that implemented solutions are not working has the full right to take appropriate measures, such as bringing employees back to the office.
