We’re entering the era of Workplace 2.0. As we’ve spent the past year working from home, workplace has taken on a new meaning. What was once a word that was synonymous with ‘office’, workplace now simply means the place you do work – whether that’s an office, a home, or a coffee shop.
As the world begins to re-open, many companies are trying to define their new rules for work. The workplace changes we’ve seen during Covid are not yet permanent. Here are four changes to expect in the post-Covid workplace:
Hybrid work becomes the norm.
Many companies will elect to use a hybrid model where employees split their time working from the office for part of the week and working remotely for the other part. One main advantage of hybrid work is that allows for maximum flexibility for both employees and companies. It allows for people to come together and work in a physical office space when required, while also offering flexibility in work locations when face to face collaboration isn’t necessary.
There will be a lot of variations in hybrid models, with some companies choosing to favor in-person work for the majority of the week of month and others being more lenient with remote work. There’s no right or wrong approach to hybrid schedules, and figuring out the right balance will likely take a bit of trial and error.
Work from home becomes work from anywhere.
Post-pandemic, remote work will still be an attractive option for many employees. As the world begins to open back up, remote employees will be able to work from anywhere they have power and an internet connection, turning work from home into work from anywhere. For employees who relocated during the pandemic, the option to continue remotely could end up being the deciding factor in keeping their job or looking for new employment.
Some companies will insist on returning in-person full time.
Companies mandating full time office work should be wary of employee turnover and higher rates of disengagement. As the job market stabilizes, people will start looking for a change if their current employment doesn’t meet their expectations. A recent study by Prudential showed that 42% of workers surveyed would not want to work for an employer who required them to work on site full time. That same survey showed that 87% of people wanted to work remotely at least one day per week, highlighting the importance of a hybrid workplace over a mandated 5-day per week in office policy.
While there will be some instances where a return to in-person work is necessary, if your company chooses to mandate office work be sure that you are providing a clear explanation as to why. There’s nothing worse than being told you have to return to the office without an explanation, or that the explanation is ‘remote work was always temporary’.
Flexible working arrangements will be key in retaining employees.
Offering flexible working arrangements will be key in retaining employees and ensuring higher levels of satisfaction and engagement. Some employees will jump at the chance to return to working in-person at an office, while others will want to continue working remotely. While there’s no way to please 100% of employees 100% of the time, offering flexibility is the next best thing. It allows for both employers and employees to make choices about working arrangements.
The evolution of the workplace is far from over. As we collectively figure out what a post-Covid world looks like, it’s likely that we’ll see workplaces change policies at lease once more this year. The best thing that companies can do is continue to be flexible and try to create a workplace that balances both employee and employer needs.