Is your company geared to keep its talent?

Peter du ToitI'm the founder of FutureWork IQ where I spend my time assisting businesses to design digital workplaces or “offices in the cloud.” These environments enable companies to allow flexible and remote working for their teams. I also teach the digital literacy, fluency, communication and collaboration skills needed to work in these modern technology-rich workplaces.

Heard such a great story while at a meeting with potential clients this morning. A South African living and working in the US had a family emergency with her parents which needed her prolonged involvement.

She approached her employer and explained the situation and said as a result she is needing to resign in order to come to South Africa to care for her parents.

20th Century Business: What choice would both parties have? Employer would simply have to lose a talented, loyal employee as well as the knowledge and expertise she had acquired while with them. Employee would lose an income source and would have to start over back in SA.

21st Century Business: Employer said “there is no need to resign. You can continue to work for us from South Africa. Please go and take care of the situation with your parents.” Employer wins as they get to keep their talent. Employee wins because she can remote work AND care for her parents on another continent!

This is the future of work. Is your company geared to keep its talent this way?