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Post-COVID World: How COVID Changed The Way We'll Work Forever

Can We Finally Return To Our Pre-Covid Routine?

By Mike ParsonsPublished 3 years ago 5 min read
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We bet you cannot wait for the clock to strike 12 on the pandemic so that you can finally return to your pre-COVID routine. But will everything truly be the same? There are no guarantees.

For many, it will take some time to enter an enclosed space feeling safe without a mask on, jump at the opportunity to see a movie or a show in a theatre, not to mention pay a visit to a concert hall or gym.

But the pandemic did not just affect our leisure time. It has transformed our workplaces and in some cases - we mean it quite literally. From protective covers in supermarkets and greater distance between office desks to a full transfer to a home office.

Although some have returned to their place of work with certain restrictions and “additions” to the uniform, others are likely looking at a stay-at-home future. And whether these changes are seen as positive or negative depends on the individual.

Some have always dreamed of grabbing their laptop right out of the bed without having to go through the entire morning-commute routine. Others, however, report the lack of concentration and complain that too many things divert their attention when they are at home.

Unfortunately, regardless of individual preferences, we cannot ignore the fact that certain things will change forever; and not just for you - COVID is doing some corporate remodeling on a global scale.

Companies are becoming more flexible

When push came to shove, everyone realized that they will have to comply with the new measures, whatever they may be. Even companies that insisted on strict 8-hour office workdays and had a lot of projects completed on a local server managed to adapt. They tested new ways to enable their employees to work from home only to discover that - it is not such a big deal as they once thought.

For months, the majority of employees have been working diligently and efficiently to prove that they can fulfill their duties and meet the defined deadlines, from literally any location. And that’s not all - many have realized that they prefer the stay-at-home option. They are even considering a transfer to a new job if the current employer decides to make the in-office work obligatory again.

In some cases, this is quite understandable. In fact, there is even a survey which proves that work from home boosts productivity.

As a result, businesses big and small continue to search for ways to further streamline communication with remote teams and offer this option as an additional work benefit. Employees will be the ones who get to choose their place of work based on their personal needs and desires, and their employers will need to agree to the terms (as long as the tasks are successfully completed, of course).

New workplace habits are being implemented

Although each country has a unique set of COVID rules and regulations people need to obey in enclosed spaces, some things are becoming a norm across the world - greater distance imposed between the tables and workers, cubicle-like see-through protective covers, masks, and sometimes even gloves.

Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple even adds that he believes regular temperature checks will likely persist for a while.

Furthermore, certain office equipment will be disposed of more regularly, either exchanged at the end of the day, or multiple pieces will be used so that each employee would have their own.

Paper placemats, sanitary wipes, and more frequent use of antibacterial cleaning agents are just some of the ways we rely on and will continue to use in the future to fight the transmission of virus at work. In some offices, not-so-subtle visuals are implemented, like circles placed around desks or drawn on the floor where queues tend to create, to indicate whether people are standing too close to each other.

Companies test global expansion

Digitalization allowed us to connect on a larger scale; reach any person in the world within moments, which is why an increasing number of companies used this time to experiment with remote teams. And when we say remote, we really mean it - they are expanding their search for talented employees and are not afraid to reach some of the most distant corners of the world.

Offshoring and nearshoring have been in the business vocabulary for some time but are now used more frequently than ever before. Lowered costs and a greater candidate pool are just some of the biggest benefits these work models bring. Still, we emphasize that managers should consider the challenges that need to be addressed in order to achieve the set goals.

Namely, as Marko Đurić, the Managing Partner at InterVenture stated on one occasion, building a talented and strong distributed team from various disciplines is in any new project or venture a challenge. But the most difficult thing to find is, not necessarily people with certain skills, but an organizational and management style which allows distributed team members to develop their full potential and remain intrinsically motivated over a long period of time.

For fruitful outsourcing operations, effective communication is crucial. Managers need to establish certain guidelines prior to the beginning of collaboration, like define the overlapping work hours, choose the best channels of communication, specify the goals and expectations, all while remaining flexible due to cultural differences.

Better optimized WFH station

Up until now, people haven’t really given that much thought about decorating their home workstation. They would strive to complete all of their work at the office, and even if they did bring something home with them, it would just require a few finishing touches that could be done from the comfy armchair.

Now, that you must spend an entire day in your house or apartment, you are forced to redecorate so that a corner of the home would be designed for work only.

An ergonomic workstation plays a huge role in your productivity, and if certain criteria are not met, you might be looking at reduced motivation and productivity. Not to mention that the area around you (that is, behind you) needs to appear professional and video conference-ready.

More attention will be paid to the home internet package - the speed, stability, and reliability it offers - as well as the choice of laptop or desktop computer. The device you use on a daily basis will have to be able to run all programs you need to stay in touch with the team and finish your tasks with ease.

Bottom line

COVID is redefining the notion of “office space” and it is not necessarily getting a negative connotation. A transitional period is necessary, and it will last longer for some, while others will quickly adapt and continue to search for new ways to even further improve their newly-acquired work habits.

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