Millennium Magazine_7th Ed

Five Ways COVID-19 May Change the Workplace The coronavirus pandemic is likely to have a lasting impact on the way individuals work. Some companies have discovered that working from home is a viable option for many workers, and virtual meetings have the potential to be just as productive as physical face-to-face meetings. So, will there ever be a full return to the bustling city center office? Alternatively, will the new normal be very different from the working environment to which people have become accustomed? Here are five aspects of office life that the COVID-19 pandemic may have changed. Working from Home May Stay There was already a drift toward more flexible working before the pandemic hit. Now that more businesses have discovered that workers can be productive at home, working from home may not disappear entirely. However, the pandemic also highlighted some of the disadvantages of home working. Home workers can feel isolated, for example, and the blurring of the home and office boundaries may make it difficult for workers to establish a work-life balance. Therefore, companies may adopt hybrid models with rotating working hours and the option to work at home part time. Productivity May be Measured Differently One of the measures of productivity in an office is how long a person spends there. Of course, the amount of time a person spends in an office may not be the entire measure of productivity. The move to working from home may significantly alter the perspective on productivity versus goal-oriented performance for years to come. As a result, in-office attendance could lessen as a measure of productivity and, instead, lead to an emphasis on tasks performed within an allotted period while an individual is in the virtual office. The Employment Market May Change Remote workers can, in theory, work anywhere. As a result, the idea of working for a local company may become consigned to history. With broadband and video conferencing, there may be fewer reasons why employees cannot be based in different states or even different countries. Job seekers will be able to cast their nets further afield. On the other side, though, that also means that there could be greater competition for jobs and a leveling out of pay rates. The premium salary rates for city jobs, for example, may disappear. Freelancing May Become More Prevalent The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for businesses to be agile, and many workers discovered that freelancing offers a flexible alternative to conventional employment. It is possible that some roles will be filled by freelancers in the future. In this scenario, some workers may opt for additional freelance opportunities. There is less security for freelancers, but freelancing may be profitable for some and can offer flexibility that is more varied. Freelancers also provide a cost-effective solution for employers. Corporate Culture May Suffer It may become more challenging for companies to develop corporate cultures with so many individuals working at home. Teamwork might be challenging, even with the use of collaborative software and video conferencing. The result of this is likely that companies will need to work more diligently to create a team spirit. There might be, for example, more corporate and social events for employees. Whatever businesses devise to keep workers connected, it could be difficult to replace informal meetings around the water cooler when you have a dispersed workforce.