Post-Covid ‘balancing act’ the next challenge for business

A new survey shows that 43% of organisations overall reported that absenteeism fell during 2020.

This figure was even higher in the public sector at 59%, according to the CIPD Ireland annual HR Practices in Ireland survey, carried out with the Kemmy Business School at University of Limerick.

The survey also revealed that while 89% of employers provided essential IT equipment to workers forced into a remote environment, just 9% provided financial support.

By the end of 2020, only half of the organisations in the survey said they had conducted health and safety assessments.

CIPD Ireland is holding its annual conference today, which has the theme of “Designing the Future of Work”.

CIPD Ireland said the next challenge facing companies as the economy re-opens after Covid-19 restrictions will be balancing the new demands of workers with the realities of running a business.

Director of CIPD Ireland Mary Connaughton will outline the opportunities to be creative around work and workplaces at today’s conference.

She says developments over the past 15 months have made one thing clear.

“Planning a return to the traditional way of working is too much of a risk. Our research shows employees have realised there is another way and they want to have a say in how it will work for them,” Mary Connaughton says.

“Responsiveness is key to striking this balance for retaining and recruiting staff. We’ve come through a prolonged period where we relied heavily on trust to keep the show on the road. That trust will be vital as we enter the next, rebuilding phase of this experience,” she adds.

Article Source – Post-Covid ‘balancing act’ the next cxhallenge for business – RTE

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