It is being said that work-from-home may make a comeback in 2023 in the wake of rising COVID cases.
Business portals report that the private sector is considering remote work options amid fears of a fourth wave hitting the country.
Top sectors to implement WFH
Anshuman Das, chief executive officer and co-founder of Careernet said, “Hospitality, automobile, commercial and office real estate, Travel, transportation and mobility will be on high alert.”
Impact on Hiring
In case the pandemic returns, certain profiles are expected to be back in demand.
Digital and software-as-a-service (SaaS) sectors are expected to see significant demand in hiring as well as e-tailing, edtech, online gaming, logistics and fintech.
“Clients in tourism and hospitality are getting more cautious, but those in other sectors like manufacturing and consumer have not stopped hiring,” said Mala Chawla, managing partner (Singapore and India) at recruitment firm Stanton Chase.
IT Units In SEZ
IT units in special economic zones have been allowed to work from home by the government till December 2023.
The commerce ministry said in a notification, “A unit may permit its employees to work from home or from any place outside the SEZ.”
Pay Cut In Exchange For WFH
A recent report claimed that several employees are demanding more flexibility in their working lives.
To that end they have expressed willingness to receive a cut in pay.
A report by ADP Research Institute’s People at Work 2022: A Global Workforce View revealed that more than 7 in 10 people of the 33,000 workers surveyed across 17 countries want more flexibility in how they structure their working time.
76.07 per cent in India want more control over their working hours and the report added that they would take a pay cut if it means a guarantee of that benefit.
They would also prefer the opportunity to alternate between home and office.
The survey also found that 76.38 per cent of employees in India would look for a new job if asked to return to the office full-time.
Benefits of WFH to corporates
The report noted that currently, there is a need for innovative alternative options instead of the traditional nine-to-five to ensure employee satisfaction.
Offering more flexibility and control over work-life is important since employees have endured immense pressure during the pandemic and have proved to be important assets, said Rahul Goyal, MD, South East Asia & India, ADP.
And not just that, offering flexible options also goes a long way towards retaining and attracting the best talent.
