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Business Report writes that as load shedding continues to disrupt workforce productivity, returning to the office may be becoming an attractive prospect.
According to Galetti Corporate Real Estate CEO John Jack, many companies have invested in back-up power solutions such as generators, inverters and renewable energy sources to ensure continued operations when Eskom load shedding is in force. “The fact is that it is exceptionally difficult to work from home during load shedding hours, and many businesses with hybrid workplace policies are struggling to maintain productivity as a result,” noted Jack. Meanwhile, Engelbert Binedel, COO of Growthpoint Properties, reported that load shedding had already resulted in a “significant pick-up” in people working from office buildings in order to get the power they needed to be able to function and do their work. Jack said both corporate and small business productivity had been affected by the load shedding because of failing internet connections, missed deadlines as employees weren’t able to complete tasks on time, and disruptions to supply chains from the reduced output of goods manufactured. “Staff are having to redo work owing to lost data and are generally forced to take a longer period to complete their work,” he said. Covid-19 prompted a shift in the modern work environment, allowing employees to work from home or enjoy flexible hybrid work models. This resulted in the worsening of a significantly oversupplied office property market in SA. Jack argued that an increased employee reliance on company office space for continued power supply would encourage many companies to renew their leases and even take out more floor space to accommodate the return of their staff to the workplace.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Edward West at Business Report
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page