5 Trends Reshaping the Future of Work After the Pandemic

After the unexpected arrival of the pandemic, we were forced to change the way we look at work. And the balance and harmony between life and work. From global shutdowns to the return to the office, professionals worldwide have accepted the change.

With companies implementing return-to-the-office plans, the discussion over the future of work has intensified. For example, Apple has called its employees back to the office as the tech giant’s new hybrid schedule final began.

The pandemic has reshaped the workplace to an extensive level. Organizations all over have transitioned from in-office working scenarios to remote-based working. But that’s not all. We redefined day-to-day operations, communication, product building, and client meetings. Professionals are experiencing a new age of connectedness based on technologies. And collaborative work has evolved dramatically over the past two years.

The future of work after Covid-19 will be different—almost unrecognizable from pre-pandemic. It depends on a few global trends already getting mainstream across industries.

1. Hybrid-friendly office design

How would remote work impact work cultures? What effects would it make on the demographic's major cities? 

Questions like these have been making the rounds since the arrival of the pandemic. Most of the companies had to force their way down to adopt remote working. Now, when the world is opening to all. Still, several organizations continue to work in the same model while clubbed with an in-office setup in between. Hybrid work-focused organizations are increasingly choosing the combination of in-office, remote, and semi-remote workspaces.  

A newly coined term, “Hybrid”, serves the purpose of both employers and employees. 47% of new talent would like to join an organization that offers a flexible working model. It makes employees see the clear value of the hybrid working model. Even from the organizational point of view, implementing a hybrid workplace creates a safe working environment. It sets the equilibrium between the work and personal life of employees, reduces exposure to illness, saves on real-estate costs, etc.

2. Updated remote-work policies

It should not come as a surprise. Millions of employees have been working remotely during the peak cycle of Covid-19. The consensus is that the trend of remote working is here to stay for a long. People want the flexibility of working from their personal space and save significantly on travel time & exertion. Remote workers show 35-40% more work productivity while benefiting the organization to grow.

Companies are realizing the benefits of the remote working model and continue to renew flexible working policies. A new trend in remote recruitment and screening is also seen on a large scale. Organizations must hire experienced and fresh talents from different demographics based on skill and expertise.

3. Virtual meetings for everything

Virtual collaboration through platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom has narrowed down the communication gap. From morning stand-ups, project-specific meets, and virtual social events, to collaborative training sessions have made communication goes seamless. It provides employers and employees with an easy way to connect, discuss, share ideas, and exchange work progress. Virtual collaboration even makes client coordination goes simple and more interactive. It prevents the mandate of physically being present at the on-premise location to meet and discuss.

Video and audio conferencing through digital means allow engaging interaction without wasting time on physical setup. Anyone can connect with their surroundings to devote ample time to professional priorities. Moreover, when everyone is virtual, there is an increased chance of every participant being vocal and additive to the conversation. Rather than the normal times of workplace meetings in which you could hear two to three stakeholders. do all the talking. And others remain silent. 

4. Shifting focus to output

Before the arrival of the pandemic, employee productivity depends on several factors. It includes total time spent in the office, leaves, taken, and other visual aspects. Quite often, teams were visible in the eyes of managers on the work floor and tracked by them. But the onset of the crisis and the remarkable shift to remote-based working have shifted the usual norms upside down. 

Now, the workforce need not feel the omnipresence of managers and seniors to track their work. Employees have the flexibility to manage work accordingly and bring substantial outputs throughout the day. There is a chance to prove the workforce's worth without being supervised now and then. Employees focus more on professional skill enhancement that helps the organization to thrive sustainably. 

5. Analyzing data for performance metrics

Another pressing need that has emerged after the pandemic is accessing and analyzing workforce data to reinforce organizational culture. By using the means of Hybrid work culture, enterprises can collect employees’ data to gauge their capabilities, issues, and growth obstacles. 

It helps organizations analyze the physical and mental well-being of the workplace and take necessary steps to enhance the same. Ultimately, it allows enterprises to adopt new methods of working and offer flexibility to employees. 

Most people are still affected by the wrath of the Covid-19 threat and feel incapable of realizing their full skill potential. HR leaders within the organization can leverage analytics technologies to understand the key metrics of employee satisfaction levels. It allows the organization to gain useful insights from employees and implement necessary steps to make the workplace better. 

Conclusion

Cities and economies around the world are now getting back to a pre-pandemic level. And in countries like India, all of it is happening rapidly. A pandemic-free future awaits us. The trends we discussed in this article will likely reign after the new normal becomes mainstream. Most of these novel trends will shape up the workplace to stay productive, flexible, and efficient. There will be a complete overhaul of an enterprise culture that will stay here for a long. No matter what, the future of the work is bright and sustainable. And all of us will experience the impacts even more noticeably in the coming years.