The United Federation for Employers in Zambia […]

The United Federation for Employers in Zambia (UFEZ) has urged employers and workers to embrace remote working as part of the future of employment, saying productivity should be measured by results rather than physical presence in the office.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Zambian Business Times-ZBT, UFEZ president Dr. Humphrey Monde said while physical attendance at work remains important in many sectors, employers should not dismiss remote work where it is practical.

“We are not saying let’s abandon physical work. But where work can be done remotely, it should be embraced. We have no objection to that,” he said. Dr. Monde said the world of work is rapidly changing due to advances in technology and artificial intelligence (AI), making it necessary for employers and employees to adapt. “Things are going to evolve, and we must be prepared for anything. We now have AI coming in, and people are working digitally. It is something we have to embrace because things are changing,” he said.

 He added that the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that organizations can continue operating effectively through remote work when necessary. Dr. Monde stressed that employers should focus on employees’ output instead of where they are working.

“What we need is the delivery of the work. Someone can be physically present in the office but be doing nothing,” he said. He responded to concerns that employees working from home may be less productive; Dr. Monde said effective supervision and clearly defined responsibilities are more important than location. “It depends on management. Supervisors must assign work and monitor performance. One challenge in Zambia is that some employers recruit people without giving them proper job descriptions. When employees do not know what is expected of them, it becomes difficult for them to deliver,” he said.

 He said employees working remotely should have clear targets and responsibilities, just as workers in manufacturing and other industries are given daily production goals. “As long as workers know their responsibilities and targets, they can still perform whether they are working from home or from the office,” he said.

 Dr. Monde encouraged both employers and employees to remain open to technological change, warning that resisting new ways of working could leave organizations behind. “We have to move with the times. There are certain changes we simply have to accept as the world of work continues to evolve,” he said.

 By Karen Ngulube