Cummins’ office employees, many of them, will begin returning to in-person work early next month, officials said Monday. That is doubtless sweet music to the ears of many downtown Columbus merchants.
Aside from the world-changing human toll of the COVID pandemic, these last two years also have been a test of survival for numerous small businesses.
For employees who previously reported to headquarters in downtown Columbus, remote work became the routine. Businesses near Cummins’ offices had to adjust — and wait, if they could manage to wait this long.
Now, the company and its employees are figuring out what the routine will be going forward, and businesses finally have reasons for optimism after Cummins announced the April 4 return-to-office date.
Kelley Schwartz, who with husband Kurt co-owns Fresh Take Kitchen at 424 Washington St., told The Republic’s Andy East that after a “very hard” couple of years, she’s thrilled about the news for a couple of reasons.
“We’re very excited” about Cummins workers returning, Schwartz said. Coincidentally, she said April 4 “will also be our four-year anniversary here.”
Imagine starting a business, especially a restaurant business as the Schwartzes did, and then facing what we have been through these past couple of years just as the establishment was, well, getting established. Especially one like Fresh Take Kitchen, where Kelley said most of their customers had been Cummins employees.
Cummins is, as Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop termed it, a thoughtful employer. The company is demonstrating that in how it’s approaching the return-to-office policy. Cummins is assessing employee roles and determining which will be fully on-site, which jobs may be done remotely, and which jobs may be hybrid.
So there will be plenty of discussions and negotiations, and we hope consensus, about who must be in the office, who can continue to work remotely, and who may work a hybrid schedule.
Being a thoughtful employer these days is essential, especially where highly talented workers and professionals are concerned. Employees with valuable skills have an almost unprecedented level of negotiating power at this moment.
That said, however, many skilled workers aren’t lobbying just to get as much money as possible. Rather, surveys show the majority prefer to work for employers who value their lives and well-being and respect their preferences, as long as work expectations are met or exceeded.
Consider a survey in November conducted by Owl Labs and Global Workplace Analytics. It found almost half of 2,000 workers polled said they would take a pay cut to continue to work remotely at least part of the time after the pandemic. A sizeable 37 percent said they would give up more than 10 percent of their wages to continue to do so.
That same survey found most remote workers were actually working more hours when they weren’t in the office.
Wise employers who want to keep and attract workers realize this. They also recognize the benefits of being an employer of choice, one that is flexible and meets employees where their needs are, especially where child care is concerned.
Cummins’ return to office plans appear to be playing out in a thoughtful and considered way. That, too, is good news for downtown.
Send comments to [email protected].
