- 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