The Future for Workers, By Workers

When COVID-19 arrived, work left the building.
What is the future of the office now?

We found employer trust is vital for workers to feel positive about returning to the workplace

68% per cent of workers trust their employers to make the right decisions about work and health when returning to the workplace post-COVID-19 restrictions.

A photo of an office desk with an image on the computer monitor of a nurse in a mask and the phrase, "stay at home" across her mask.

For an infographic summary of the research, click on the image below

an infographic titled "The Future for Workers, By Workers: Making the Next Normal Better for All" with text, "Body text: A dramatic workforce transformation is happening in front of our eyes. COVID-19 began as a health crisis and is playing out as an economic crisis and a social crisis. Work literally left the building and whole industries are disrupting at speeds never seen before." Logos from ManpowerGroup and Reputation Leaders are displayed at the bottom of the page.

A dramatic workforce transformation is happening in front of our eyes. COVID-19 began as a health crisis and is playing out as an economic crisis and a social crisis. Work literally left the building, and whole industries are disrupting at speeds never seen before.

To find out how COVID-19 is accelerating What Workers Want, ManpowerGroup, in partnership with Reputation Leaders, asked 8000 people in 8 countries about The Future for Workers, By Workers. The fieldwork ran from June 1 to June 16, 2020, with 1000 workers in each of France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Singapore, Spain, UK and USA in local languages.

As lockdowns lift and restrictions ease, nearly all (94%) of workers say they have concerns about going back to the workplace, but only 5% say they don’t want to go back. Workers want to feel reassured that health, safety and wellbeing come first when returning to the workplace. Across the world, workers want employers to ensure unwell workers stay home (75%), enforce strict hygiene policies (74%), and communicate clearly on how health will be protected before workers return to the workplace (73%).

Trust and transparency have never been more critical, and the best employers know they need data and insight to instill confidence. Three in five (62%) who trust their employers to make the right work and health decisions are likely to feel positive about returning to the workplace.

Overall, 43% of workers agree that the crisis marks the end of the full-time work (9-5pm) in the office, and 50% of those who agree feel happy about that fact. Most prefer 2-3 days/week in the workplace.

Our studies, as well as others, show that the real test for whether a company is socially and ethically responsible is how well they treat their employees. A good employer reputation starts with listening, and many employers are rethinking the future of work and remote working in light of reduced office costs, employee productivity and benefits.  Enlightened employers are adopting a flexible hybrid approach to suit. For more on building employer reputation, see our reputation advantage page.

An image titled “The 4 Ps of Reputation” and it outlines the four key drivers of a company’s reputation. The four Ps of Reputation are: Product or Service Quality: This refers to the overall quality of the goods or services that a company offers. A company with a high-quality reputation will deliver products or services that meet or exceed customer expectations. Performance: This refers to a company’s ability to deliver on its promises. This includes things like on-time delivery, accurate billing, and good customer service. Purpose: A company’s purpose is its reason for being. Companies with a strong purpose are motivated by more than just making a profit. They are also committed to making a positive impact on the world. A strong sense of purpose can help a company to build trust and loyalty with its customers and employees. Social Responsibility: This refers to a company’s commitment to giving back to society and the environment. Socially responsible companies take into account the impact of their business decisions on people and the planet. This can include things like philanthropy, environmental sustainability, and fair labor practices. Companies that focus on all four Ps of Reputation are more likely to build a strong and positive reputation that will help them to succeed in the long term.