Time clock or "deliverables"?

We live in a period of constant technological evolution. If we go back a few decades, we are amazed at how much technology has evolved. It has been prolific in new options that have changed the way we interact with others and how we carry out many of our daily tasks.

Those who started their careers in the early 1990s used to send a fax to communicate more quickly. Today, this is unthinkable. It has been replaced by email, and in some cases, by messaging applications or even by AI-powered workflow management and organization services. What was standard 10, 5 or even 2 years ago is no longer standard today.

During the lockdowns imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies were forced to adopt 100% remote working, completely changing their operations, which until then had been 100% in-person. The pandemic was a true proof of concept that remote working works in most sectors. And, in addition, it demonstrated that there is another reality beyond in-person work.

For employees, not having to travel and flexible working hours allows for a better work-life balance, reducing the time spent commuting and increasing their overall well-being. Adopting flexible working policies also allows employees to adapt their routine to their current family/work situation, avoiding stress peaks when trying to reconcile the two aspects. Furthermore, promoting autonomy has a positive impact on job satisfaction and, consequently, motivation. Companies also reap considerable benefits. In addition to the obvious reduction in operating costs, the possibility of recruiting talent without geographical restrictions broadens the pool of candidates, promotes a more diverse and qualified talent availability, and a motivated team. All of this is interconnected, impacts productivity and, above all, the talent retention rate.

In the Portuguese context, productivity is an indicator that clearly needs to be improved. Data from 2022 indicate that it is the fifth country in the European Union with the lowest productivity per hour worked, only ahead of countries such as Poland and Greece1. According to data from the OECD , in 2022 Portugal recorded an average productivity of around 37.3 dollars per hour worked, while the OECD average was around 55.7 dollars, with countries such as Ireland exceeding 100 dollars per hour.

BeOne Medicines (formerly BeiGene) was truly a pioneer when it launched its flexible, 100% remote model globally in 2010. COVID-19 proved that this model was necessary in itself and that it contributed to more motivated and results-focused teams, united against cancer. This strategy has borne fruit and our goal of making innovative, life-saving medicines more accessible in the shortest possible time to everyone who needs them has been successful. We promote freedom, well-being and autonomous work management, with truly multidisciplinary and multicultural teams. This approach encourages inclusion, because we are all connected. And the fact that we can work with colleagues from other countries also makes us aware of the challenges and problems experienced in other realities, making us more sensitive to common problems and encouraging cooperation. The result so far, in the Iberian Peninsula, is a talent retention rate of 100%. Therefore, I believe that sometimes, all we need is the common sense to rethink previously standardized processes and have the audacity to do things differently. At BeOne, we are promoting a model that may soon become the norm.

Adopting a more flexible work policy that promotes results rather than working hours can be an effective strategy for improving productivity. It is possible to increase team motivation and, therefore, company productivity. Although it is not applicable to all roles, many activities can be carried out effectively remotely. The key is to identify these areas and implement policies that promote flexibility, without compromising quality and safety. 100% remote work is not just a response to temporary crises, but an opportunity to reimagine the way we work. It is time to take advantage of technology and put it to work, to abandon the mentality of working hours and transform them into deliverables , into results.