Future of Work life Post-COVID era

The future of work has been sped up. We've made so much digital and technological progress as a result
of the pandemic, which means that the future looks a bit different than we thought it would at the
beginning of the year. Learn more about the future of work post-COVID in this article.

When Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said, “We have seen two years’ worth of digital transformation in
two months,” around May of this year, he was entirely correct. 

Things that people had in their mind as “the future of work” for ten years from now are suddenly the
norm right now in 2020. COVID-19 has truly changed how the entire world functions in just a few
months' time.

So what does the future of work look like post-COVID? As the world starts to cautiously re-open, what
will employers do to keep employees & consumers safe, employed, and healthy?

Here are our predictions on some of the key aspects of the future of work around the world.

Change to the Traditional Office

The past few years have seen a rise in co-working spaces, shared office spaces, and, of course, the digital
nomad jumping from coffee shop to coffee shop.

Now, these types of workspaces are considered high-risk for the spread of disease, making them risky
for small and large businesses alike. We predict a shift back to the private office space model. This can,
and likely will, change to accommodate entrepreneurs, small business teams, and remote workers to
offer private offices in shared buildings.

Remote work has increased dramatically throughout the pandemic, which we believe will spur the
increase in the use of virtual office space. 

Virtual offices give people the amenities and office necessities they need without the physical location or
having to even go into an office. Everything you need to work will be digital and handled by the virtual
office company.

Remote Work Is Here to Stay

As nonessential workers moved to work from home or work remotely, they joined some of the millions
of others already making a living from home or at least taking remote workdays a few days per week. It’s
estimated that approximately 50 percent of workers are working from home during this crisis.

Now several businesses and companies have come to know that remote work is not only possible for
them, but also efficient, productive, and even helps them save money!

Even More Emphasis on Work Perks

Millennials have already pushed companies and employers to start offering better work perks and
offerings to entice them into positions in certain companies. 

As we move to the future of work post-COVID, we expect to see even more of these perks with an
emphasis on healthcare, sick days, hazard pay, childcare, and, of course, working remotely if necessary.

We also expect most companies to offer varied work schedules and types depending on each
employee’s preferences. Hybrid work weeks will likely be a top tier work perk (work from home some
days , in the office on others) along with stipends for remote workers and other remote work perks.

Treating employees as Human

While some organizations have recognized the humanitarian crisis of the pandemic and prioritized the
well-being of employees as people over employees as workers, others have pushed employees to work
in conditions that are high risk with little support — treating them as workers first and people second.

Employers have to be deliberate in which approach they take and be mindful of the effects on employee
experience, which will be long-lasting.  They will have to balance the decisions made today to resolve
immediate concerns during the pandemic with the long-term impact on the employment brand.

Workplace Design Changes

Design on the office space will shift over a period of time due to COVID-19 with a mixed response by the
occupants of the space. Organizations must continue to support social distancing and maintain healthy
work environments to safeguard their workforce.

Most Space Planners, Architects and product providers are proactively thinking ahead of time to bring in
new concepts and technologies to provide a healthier and more sustainable workplace for the
future. Occupiers have embraced the preliminary phase to accelerate the short term transition and have
started partnering with organizations like JLL to plan a safer and informed re entry at the workplaces.

Return to work in the preliminary phase will not be what it used to be before the outbreak of the
pandemic and for now social distancing and workplace wellness will prevail.

The work environment

One of the top pluses or minuses cited by employees is their work environment, and specifically their
physical environment. A flexible work environment is a key driver in companies retaining valuable talent.
A survey shows that worldwide 87% of employees are disengaged and the physical workplace affects
employee job satisfaction with the top likes being: great co-workers; work environment and good
benefits