Work from home (WFH) has been the response of most businesses when the pandemic struck.
But in AboitizLand, telecommuting was already being planned for implementation even months before the outbreak as a way to make the business more resilient and future-ready.
Telecommuting or remote working reduces the need for team members to travel.
According to vice president for corporate services Philbright Ang Ti AboitizLand was initially aiming to boost productivity rates and encourage a better work-life balance.
“The plans started before the pandemic hit and fortunately we just had to accelerate our transition to WFH due to the stay-at-home mandates,” he said.
The adjustment has allowed AboitizLand to lessen the risk of COVID-19 spread and endangering everyone, and the setup will remain post-pandemic.
The work-from-anywhere option is available to all employees as a long-term work policy of the company.
Team members can agree on an arrangement with their team leaders regarding the need to report in the office or at the site, and other considerations.
Thus, at present, 20.98 percent of AboitizLand employees are working at the site front lines while 56.59 percent are reporting to the office when needed
About 22 percent are purely working from home. AboitizLand believes that this arrangement will serve to build trust within the teams.
Employee Productivity and Satisfaction
One of the ways toward a more resilient business is to boost productivity without increasing operational costs for the company while implementing a work-life balance for employees. Savings on operating expenses were reallocated to advancing digital initiatives, employee engagement, and wellness programs such as internal webinars, learning sessions, and individual development programs, and to benefit external stakeholders.
Despite the growing pains brought about by the sudden transition to remote work, AboitizLand’s Employee Engagement Rating for 2020 was the highest in the last three years.
The availability of digital communication platforms, constant touch points with the management team, regular updates on the COVID-19 situation, and virtual town hall meetings were key in helping the team transition to the new normal.
“Employees and their families can rest assured that this is not a temporary response to a crisis but a long-term plan to bring our people and business into the future,” says Ang Ti.