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About Coast river business journal. (Astoria, OR) 2006-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 2021)
BUSINESS NEWS 8 • February 2021 Presented By Coast River Business Journal Professionals see teleworking as new norm Story & Photo by Edward Stratton Coast River Business Journal estratton@crbizjournal.com 51 ST Annual Northwest Ag Show FEBRUARY 16–18, 2021 FREE VIRTUAL EVENT Register to attend the Pesticide Safety Seminar for OSHA Credits Full 3-Day line-up of Educational Videos & Equipment Demos • LIVE Oregon FFA Roundtable • Equipment Demonstrations presented by Kubota • Beekeeping 101, Chick Cahat & Nutrition with Nutrena presented by Coastal Farm & Ranch • Metal Buildings for Agriculture presented by Pacific Building Systems Exhibitor Showcase Equipment Showcase REGISTER TODAY AT ENTER TO WIN A $500 COASTAL GIFT CARD • Soil Health presented by Dr. Jimz • Preserve your Financial Legacy presented by Equilus Financial • 1st-Ever Hydroelectric Mover presented by HydroSide Systems • Equipment Demonstrations presented by Brim Tractor, Holt Ag Systems, Doerfler Tractors, & GK Machine Agri-Business Showcase Learning Center NorthwestAgShow.com Major Sponsors Simply register to attend at NorthwestAgShow.com NorthwestAgShow.com | 800-882-6789 | #NWAGShow When the pandemic ratcheted up in the Pacifi c Northwest, Andrew Mattingly packed his offi ce up and took it home, along with almost all of his 60-plus coworkers across the Pacifi c Northwest at Craft3. The regional lender plans to continue working fully remotely through at least the middle of this year, joining a growing trend of professionals in the public and private market shifting to remote work. “Teleworking at Craft3 has been part of our DNA for quite a while,” said Sonya Lynn, chief operating offi cer. “We had that already. You could work from home one day a week, but the pandemic had permitted us the opportunity to fl ex on that. So we were able to pivot rather quickly.” More than one-third of U.S. employees telecom- muted in May during initial economic restrictions, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The rate leveled out just above 20% by September but has held steady. Mattingly set up an offi ce in his basement. His wife, a teacher in training, mostly handles schooling their two children. “I’ve got all the comforts of the offi ce in the comfort of my home now,” Mattingly said. “With the kids around, there are distractions, and there are dishes in the sink, but it’s been pretty smooth.” Don Erickson, the chief administration offi cer for the Oregon Department of Human Services, said the agency closed more than half of its 160 or so offi ces around the state after the virus became a safety concern. The Astoria offi ces remained open with two front desk workers helping walk-ins. Around 47% of the agency’s 9,500 workers statewide, including 26 in Astoria, have been tele- commuting at least part of the time. Erickson said managers were surprised at the rise in productivity across the board among workers who spend most of their time on the computer. “Part of it is that there are fewer interruptions,” he said. “There’s less water fountain talk, that sort of thing. “Part of it is a source of a little bit of concern for us,” he said. “People have a tendency to actually work more hours. They tend to lose track. So we’re actually having to remind people to take breaks and make sure you take a lunch and get up and walk a little bit.” The agency helps get ergonomic offi ce equip- ment into homes and ensure workers have a fast- enough internet connection. But after interviews with workers, Erickson said, about 40% could work remotely long-term, which could mean fewer offi ce rentals. “We lease 160 buildings around the state,” Erickson said. “We have probably the largest foot- Andrew Mattingly, a business lender, is one of more than 60 employees at Craft3 who have transitioned to working from home. print of any state entity... So we have the poten- tial to be able to redirect some of the savings from our facility costs to service provision over the next decade if telework continues to be a viable option. So we’re taking it seriously.” A survey by online business platform Upwork found that by February, 19.5 million workers would be fully remote. By 2025, that will increase to 36.2 million workers. Craft3 has decided to keep workers mostly at home until at least the middle of this year, depend- ing on the seriousness of the pandemic. Mattingly predicts he’ll be working from home more often, with no signifi cant loss in productivity and an increased effi ciency from less travel. “I think it will lead to increased effi ciency, and not necessarily having to leave 15 minutes early to go to a meeting,” he said. That being said, I think lots of us are also really, really excited to get back to some in-person meetings. Because there’s just that obvious connection that while everybody’s doing their best with the online platforms, it’s just kind of the secret sauce that’s missing.” Craft3 has continued its leases on offi ces around the region, while even expanding its footprint in Spokane, Washington, at the start of the pandemic. Managers hold regular coffee check-ins and other online social events to maintain the fabric of the offi ce. It has hired and oriented seven new employ- ees who have yet to meet other staff in person. But Lynn said there are no plans to abandon any offi ce spaces. “We recognize the importance of being in place,” she said. “The economic impacts from our people who go and get coffee, or take their borrow- ers to lunch, or have those important conversations in the community is essential to us.”
