If Noah Had Zoom

We can find plenty of memes about Jesus, the Apostles, or many other religious characters with phones, tablets, or using AI. Undoubtedly, the mix of different times is funny. But some things, like climate, are important factors in any age of humankind. Storms, lightning, and flash flooding are not only present in the Bible. In the past month, Mexico City has experienced, almost every day, torrential rain. It has been described as an unusual situation by newspapers and social media as we are getting record amounts compared to previous years. The reality is that in the past 20 years, climate has changed significantly , and the current infrastructure is insufficient. Unfortunately, every summer, roads are flooded, and we can see blocked vehicles as well as bus stations and subway stops rendered useless. As the Bible tells us, God protected Noah from the disaster. Are we living through a 40-day flood without any measures to improve the situation of workers every year? 

It is not the first time that employees in different industries have had to cross from one side of one of the largest cities in the world to the other side, a journey that takes two to three hours. Protests, rallies, closed streets, and inefficient transportation are frequently obstacles for the productivity and wellness of thousands of citizens. Could home office be the solution when we know that specific areas are rendered difficult by an extraordinary situation?

As is often the case, prevention has not been the strong point of companies. Something as easily predictable as the weather could be a valuable factor in the way we plan our activities. Does your company, just like Noah built the ark before the first drop of rain, see remote work as your modern-day ark-preparedness before the flood?

According to data from the International Labor Organization (ILO), 1 in 5 worldwide jobs were handled remotely at some point during the first 19 months of the pandemic. It wasn’t a significant statistic at first, but in our country, according to reports from the Bank of Mexico, by the end of the health emergency after two years, 69% of companies in Mexico had implemented remote work as a measure to continue their operations. Of course, there are many sectors that cannot work from home, but at least 20% of the labor force could be out of office daily. This would total around 978,000 of the 4 million workers in Mexico City. In other words, roughly twice the population of Miguel Hidalgo, one of the city’s most populous and emblematic boroughs. Imagine all the advantages of seasonal or temporary remote work? The most immediate are:

• Avoiding commuting chaos on stalled roads during storms

• Improved safety and well-being, reducing the risk of accidents, illnesses, or exposure to unsafe conditions

• Higher productivity even when there are traffic jams

• Reduced stress and lost time for workers and clients

• Lower costs for both employees and employers 

• And finally, a more resilient and adaptable workforce 

Challenges such as AI invite us to seek new skills and adaptability to different situations, and the search for quick and efficient solutions will mark the advantages in a more competitive market. The pandemic also showed us many of the disadvantages of remote work: some managers didn't know how to lead their teams, workdays seemed endless, and the gap between home and work was very small. However, we can't, and shouldn't, think that home office is a synonym for  “lockdown” and lose all the benefits that a home office arrangement could have in some specific situations.

A couple of years ago, WeWork presented the results of the study, “Redesigning Work Models in Latin America,” which surveyed more than 10,000 workers across the region to understand the role of the workplace in the development of people and companies. Regarding Mexico, the study revealed that 85% of Mexicans prefer to work in a hybrid format; however, only 64% have access to it. The same study even detailed that Mexicans want to work at least two days in person at the office and three days remotely, at home, or in a different location, rather than the office. Unfortunately, according to this year's KPMG study on Risks in Mexico and Central America, only 38% of companies in our country have a risk plan, and just 31% of executives consider climate change to be a significant threat.

Mexico City offers culture, diversity, and the warmth of its people. However, it's far from the Top 10 best places to live. Health, infrastructure, and environment are usually the basis for the evaluation. What would happen if we recaptured some positive aspects of the crisis of a few years ago, instead of following the ups and downs of the falling water? Certainly, Noah would use his Zoom.