There is a reasonably well-known phrase that says when America sneezes, the world catches a cold. I think we now know what happens if China sneezes!
At the beginning of this year, which is really just a couple of months ago, we all believed we were coming out of the pandemic. I do not think anyone would have believed there would have been a war in Europe. As I write, there are disastrous floods happening in Australia where, only a year ago, terrible bush fires were raging. So, I do not believe the world has settled and we have a new norm!
In this context, I look at what is happening in the UK. Dr Stephen Covey (‘The 7 habits of highly effective people’) states that it takes 28 days to form a habit. During lockdown we had far longer than 28 days to form habits - for example, a better work life balance which, in most cases, has become a better life work balance. The working day is predominantly more under the control of the employee than the employer with the exception of essential workers who cannot work from home, and it is blatantly obvious that a cleaning operative cannot sit behind a computer and clean an office (certainly not yet)!
The Prime Minister recently quoted a phrase from The Lion King to No. 10 staff, claiming ‘change is Good’. Many office employees in London are not just working from home (WFH) but are also adopting the new work-from-hybrid model known as TWAT – or, more politely, referred to as TW&T: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Different sectors have radically varying rates of working from home. ONS figures from April 2021 stated that approximately 18% of IT staff, and 42% of real estate staff have returned to their workplace. The figures for healthcare and social workers are uncertain, but it appears that approximately 80% have returned to their workplace. Remember that, during this period, some staff were still on furlough.
Many roles have turned from customer facing to colleague facing, held via Zoom or Teams. I prefer the days when Zoom was an ice-lolly and you were either in the rugby team or you were not!
The problem with Zoom and Teams is by its very nature it is virtual. In larger organisations, it is very unhelpful when participants have not entered their correct username or are using someone else’s computer. As we all know, nature abhors a vacuum and in many cases AI has filled the gap. I recently booked a repair appointment totally through AI, with no human contact whatsoever and, to be frank, I was not impressed with AI’s attitude.
It seemed to have no empathy with the fact that my problem was that I was freezing cold! I can see that the cleaning industry will have to adapt to these new working practices and whilst there is a resistance from office staff to return to the office full-time in the current climate, employers are to some extent experiencing a reduction in the use of utilities. So I am reminded of two songs. Firstly, ‘How ya gonna keep ‘em down on the farm (after they’ve seen paree)?’ refers to American soldiers in the First World War who came from rural America and ended up in Paris.
Their whole perception of the world changed which is what has happened with working from home. Secondly, the much-maligned Max Bygraves 1960 song ‘Fings ain’t what they used t’be’ - in my humble opinion they never will be again.
About the contributor
Stan Atkins
CEO
BICSc