Choi Tae-won Prepares for the 'Home-Staying Era'

SK Introduces Permanent Work-from-Home System

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park So-yeon] SK Group is introducing 'remote work' as a form of a regular work system. This follows SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won (photo) ordering that remote work be established not as a temporary measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but as a permanent work system.

This is interpreted as a proactive measure based on the judgment that a major transformation of corporate systems is necessary to actively respond to changes in consumption patterns and industrial structures after COVID-19, which are summarized as 'contactless' and 'homeconomy' (economic consumption activities conducted at home).

According to the industry on the 27th, each affiliate of SK Group has begun preparing detailed policies by organization to promote regular remote work. Various plans suited to team characteristics, such as rotational remote work, are reportedly being discussed.

This follows Chairman Chey’s directive during an emergency management meeting to respond to the COVID-19 situation, instructing to "complement the strengths and weaknesses of remote work and establish it as a routine work system." It is understood that Chairman Chey made a management decision that a major transformation of the entire corporate culture and system, from recruitment and personnel evaluation systems to cloud capabilities, is necessary to prepare for the 'post-COVID-19' era.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, SK Group has responded swiftly by being the first among major group companies to introduce remote work to enforce high-intensity social distancing. Although remote work has ended as the COVID-19 situation has prolonged, the group continues to secure ongoing safe distancing through 'smart work,' including contactless meetings and expanded flexible work hours.

SK Group plans not to stop there but to prepare a regular remote work system and change organizational operations such as work support and performance management to prepare for the prolonged pandemic and seasonal outbreaks. Experts predict that after COVID-19, there will be a major change in consumption patterns centered on indoor lifestyles and contactless transactions. Corporate business and overall industrial structures are also expected to undergo a structural transformation based on 'contactless' as the norm.

A business industry insider said, "From the perspective of corporate management, in the post-COVID-19 world, what we have considered common sense is completely collapsing," adding, "Following the trend of contactless, once the industrial structure transformation takes place, it will be difficult to revert, and companies that fail to keep pace with this will be eliminated, which creates a strong sense of crisis."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.