PR84593

ZURICH, June 30, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

- Businesses and workers call for greater flexibility, questions raised over

the hours-based contract, and a new empathetic leadership profile emerges  

- Workers demand greater flexibility after coronavirus, with a 50/50 split of

remote and office time confirmed as the universal ideal

- Questions raised over the hours-based contract, with 69% saying contracts

should be based on results delivered rather than hours worked

- Boom in digital skills an unintended consequence of lockdown, with tech

knowhow improving for six in 10 (61%), and two thirds (69%) eager for further

digital upskilling post-pandemic

- Leaders need to reinvent themselves as more emotionally intelligent, but they

are not prepared, as less than half felt equipped to support employees

holistically during the pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in pivotal shifts in attitudes and

expectations among workers and leaders, as both call for permanent changes in

how and where we work, workplace relationships and future skills, according to

new research from the Adecco Group.

The Adecco Group, the world's leading HR solutions company, today unveiled the

results of its latest study, Resetting Normal: Defining the New Era of Work,

examining the expected short- and long-term impact of the pandemic on resetting

workplace norms. Fieldwork was conducted in May 2020, with 8,000 office-based

respondents (aged 18-60) across Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan,

Spain, the UK and the USA.

The Adecco Group's Chief Executive Officer, Alain Dehaze, said: "The world of

work will never return to the 'normal' we knew before the pandemic struck. The

sudden and dramatic change in the workplace landscape has accelerated emerging

trends such as flexible working, high-EQ leadership, and re-skilling, to the

point where they are now fundamental to organisational success. As many

countries emerge from the acute crisis phase of the pandemic, employers have an

opportunity to 'hit reset' on traditional workplace practices – many of which

have remained largely unchanged since the industrial revolution. This research

highlights that employee attitudes have shifted and gaps between workforce

expectations and entrenched labour market processes have been exposed. As we

step into the new era of work, now is the time to establish better norms that

will enable a holistically healthy, productive and inclusive workforce into the

future."

Key research highlights:

The research revealed that the working world is ready for a new "hybrid" model,

with three quarters (74%) of workers surveyed saying a mix of office-based and

remote working is the best way forward. The universal ideal of spending half

(51%) of their time in the office and half working remotely (49%) transcends

geographies, generations and parental status. And company executives agree,

with almost eight in ten (77%) C-suite leaders saying businesses will benefit

from increased flexibility.

Another stark finding could signal the end of the hours-based contract and

40-hour week. More than two thirds (69%) of workers are in favour of

"results-driven work," whereby contracts are based on delivering against

business needs rather than working a set number of hours. A high proportion of

C-suite executives (74%) agree that the length of the working week should be

revisited.

The pandemic has also demanded a new set of leadership competencies and these

expectations are expected to accelerate a reinvention of the modern-day leader.

Emotional intelligence has clearly emerged as the defining trait of today's

successful manager, but the soft skills gap is evident. Over a quarter (28%) of

those questioned said their mental wellbeing had worsened due to the pandemic,

with only 1 in 10 rating their managers highly on their ability to support

their emotional health.  

In a similar nature to flexible working, the findings demonstrate a universal

appetite for mass upskilling. Six in 10 say their digital skills have improved

during lockdown, while a further two thirds (69%) are looking for further

digital upskilling in the post-pandemic era. A broad range of skills

development were identified as important by the workforce, including managing

staff remotely (65%), soft skills (63%) and creative thinking (55%).

Finally, the findings highlighted the importance of sustaining trust in the new

working world. Companies have risen to the challenge of supporting their people

during the crisis, and as a result, trust in corporations has increased. In

fact, 88% say that their employer met or exceeded their expectations in

adapting to the challenges of the pandemic. And with this increased trust comes

increased expectations. While the future of work is a collective

responsibility, 80% of employees believe their employer is responsible for

ensuring a better working world post-COVID and resetting norms, compared with

73% who say the government is responsible, 72% who agree it is an individual

responsibility, and 63% who believe it is in the hands of labour unions.

For more information:

- Download the Resetting Normal: Defining the New Era of Work full report here

[https://www.adeccogroup.com/reset-normal].

- Follow us on social #ResetNormal for updates

About the Adecco Group

The Adecco Group is the world's leading HR solutions company. We believe in

making the future work for everyone, and every day enable more than 3.5 million

careers. We skill, develop, and hire talent in 60 countries, enabling

organisations to embrace the future of work. As a Fortune Global 500 company,

we lead by example, creating shared value that fuels economies and builds

better societies. Our culture of inclusivity, entrepreneurship and teamwork

empowers our 35,000 employees and we are proud to have been consistently ranked

one of the 'World's Best Workplaces' by Great Place to Work(R). The Adecco

Group AG is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland (ISIN: CH0012138605) and

listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ADEN) and powered by nine global brands:

Adecco, Adia, Badenoch & Clark, General Assembly, Lee Hecht Harrison, Modis,

Pontoon, Spring Professional and Vettery.

adeccogroup.com [https://www.adeccogroup.com/]

Facebook: facebook.com/theadeccogroup [https://www.facebook.com/theadeccogroup]

Twitter: @AdeccoGroup [https://twitter.com/AdeccoGroup]

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For further information please contact:

The Adecco Group Press Office

media@adeccogroup.com

+41-(0)-44-878-87-87

Source: The Adecco Group