March 2020, companies all across the world closed their offices and instructed their employees to work from home. At the time no one knows how long the shutdown will last. Many thought it would just be a short period of time, maybe a few months maximum. However, one year later, it seems like many workers are still working remotely. The pandemic is a massive remote working experiment and it presents us with a blueprint of office work in the near future, as well as the challenges ahead.
Working from home to working from suburb
According to a study across more than 2,000 tasks used in some 800 occupations in eight focus countries, 20 to 25 percent of the workforces in advanced economies could work from home between three and five days a week. This means there will be four to five times more remote work than before, indicating a huge transformation of geography of work. More workers may choose to move to the suburban area or adjacent small cities due to the less expensive cost of living.
In Person interaction yet still can’t be get of completely
Apart from the geography of the workforce, the pandemic also gives companies a chance to reassess what is the most effective way to do some activities. People found out meetings aren’t always necessary, working a standard eight-hour shift may not be the best schedule for everyone, sitting in the office desks also doesn’t guarantee productivity. However, there are still some activities that are more effective to be done in person than remotely.Negotiations, critical business decisions, brainstorming sessions, providing sensitive feedback, and onboarding new employees are examples of activities that may lose some effectiveness when done remotely.
Hybrid working as the new norm
Remote working will no longer be considered as the “special phase.” Given the pros and cons of working from home. Many companies have started to offer hybrid working. Some even consider shifting to remote working completely. Google, for example, will test a flexible workweek pilot that would have employees come into the office at least three days a week for “collaboration days.”The company is also making changes in its office spaces to include reservable collaboration spaces and outdoor spaces for team meetings. Earlier this year, Twitter announced that it will allow some employees to make working from home permanent .
Redesigning the office space
As more workers start working remotely, companies will also likely need less office space. Yelp is considering downsizing its office space with fewer desks and focusing more on collaboration. In an interview for CNN’s Coronavirus: Fact vs. Fiction podcast, the market research company Forrester reported that their clients have started to look to reduce 30% to 50% of their overall office space.
Challenges and new learning opportunities for business managers
However hybrid working posed many challenges to managers that may make the difficulties they faced during the pandemic seem much more easier. Inequality between remote and in-office workers can become an issue among hybrid workforces. People in the office get more face time with the boss, which can lead to better relationships, increased access to information and top assignments. Therefore, companies should focus on training managers on how to equally incorporate remote and in-person workers in meetings and decision making, as well as how they communicate is a critical step in equalizing workforces.
Furthermore, different countries and economies are impacted by different COVID measurements. Innovation everywhere can provide virtual space for managers to share their experience and knowledge for navigating through this new era of working through webinars and online workshops. What the pandemic present is a great chance for corporate learning, as managers can learn from leadership styles adopted by other business managers in other countries.