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Public Service

The future of remote work for states

September 27, 2021 2-MINUTE READ

In brief

  • Accenture and NASCA surveyed Chief Administrative Officers in 32 states to understand the future of remote work for state governments.
  • Flexible work styles offer advantages to government and workers—and these arrangements are likely to endure beyond the end of the pandemic.
  • During the pandemic, CAOs faced dual challenges of keeping state workers safe while continuing to deliver essential services.
  • CAOs point out that human capital remains a major focus of innovation.

Future of remote work

State governments had to pivot quickly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Leaders, including Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs), navigated the dual challenges of keeping state worked safe while continuing to deliver essential services to residents and businesses. The Accenture and NASCA survey findings suggest that flexible work styles are likely to endure beyond the end of the pandemic. Here’s why.

For most CAOs, human capital/remote work was a top focus of innovation over the past six months – and will continue to be a focus over the next six months.

More remote work, less real estate

56%

CAOs expect to keep at least a quarter of their workforce remote.

66%

CAOs plan to reduce their real estate footprint as the size of the remote workforce increases.

Higher satisfaction, lower costs

91%

CAOs cite employee satisfaction and culture as a top advantage of a remote workforce.

63%

CAOs cite real estate savings as a top advantage of a remote workforce.

63%

CAOs cite talent recruitment as a top advantage of a remote workforce.

State governments had to pivot quickly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the CAOs surveyed, states made these updates and investments in 2020:

  • Expand/formalize telework policy
  • Flexibility around time work was done
  • New technology to enable remote work
  • State equipment allowed at home
  • Hoteling for office
  • Union arrangements, classification changes
  • Training for managers
  • Move toward project-based measures of accomplishment

 

 

SLIDESHARE: Perspectives on the future of remote work for States
RELATED: Accenture

91%

of CAOs cite the top advantage of a remote workforce is employee satisfaction and culture.

66%

of CAOs plan to reduce their real estate footprint as the size of the remote workforce increases.

3

ways to manage remote performance:

 

  • Information outcome and project-based productivity
  • Informal daily check in
  • Formal employee satisfaction surveys

About the Authors

Kelly Rogers

Senior Manager – Public Service, North America

Bill Kilmartin

Senior Advisor – Public Service, Accenture

Jenny Brodie

Senior Manager – Strategy, Public Service

Pam Goins

Executive Director – National Association of State Chief Administrators

Jamie Rodgers

Consultant – Public Service, North America

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