‘It’s really good news, but as always we cannot sit back’
There’s no active community cases of COVID-19 in NZ, according to health minister Chris Hipkins.
“This is a big milestone,” he said in a press release.
“New Zealanders have once again through their collective actions squashed the virus. The systems that have been developed and strengthened since our first wave of COVID-19 have worked very effectively to chase down the virus, isolate it, and eliminate it.
“It’s really good news, but as always we cannot sit back. Constant vigilance and teamwork, with everyone playing their part to ensure we stay on top of the virus, needs to be our new normal for some time to come.”
However, Hipkins warned the population to remain alert.
“While having stamped out COVID-19 in our community for the second time is a real achievement that New Zealanders should be proud of, there is an ongoing risk that further community cases will emerge in the future.
“I urge New Zealanders to remain vigilant and to not let complacency creep in. If you become unwell, stay home and seek advice on getting a COVID-19 test.”
So, what does this mean for NZ employers?
Well, while it might be tempting to return to our old way of work, many employees simply aren’t so keen.
A recent report from the University of Otago found that 73% of employees were equally or more productive when working from home – with a further eight in ten wanting to continue to do so indefinitely.
A further 65% of working Kiwis are feeling ‘optimistic’ about the future of remote work.
In a recent HRD New Zealand survey, we found that some employers were concerned about how engaged their staff would be if they returned to the office.
However, others added that they were viewing this pandemic as an ‘opportunity’ to pivot to a more work from home style structure.
Do you plan on returning fully to the office? Or will you give remote work a chance? Tell us in the comments.
