Work After COVID-19
For many of us, the pandemic has been a life-altering experience in our lives. Not only has it affected us as individuals, but as a workforce.
Soon enough, the pandemic will end and we’ll finally return to a sense of normalcy. Well, at least some of us will. For others, there are quite a few changes to expect. We have adapted to the coronavirus, as have our businesses, and there’s no going back now.
There will be changes in our workplace, and here’s what we can expect to see:
1. More Flexibility
Being confined to the walls of our homes for weeks, if not months, has forced many businesses to establish work-from-home (WFH) mechanisms when possible. The arbitrary transition from workplace to home proved to be seamless and there’s one thing we have to thank for that: the modern cloud. In the past few years, technological advancements have enabled us to store data on the Internet instead of a hard drive, thus allowing us to work from virtually anywhere.
Employees, for the most part, have proven their productivity, and it’s highly probable that WFH will remain popular among professionals. Not only can WFH be beneficial to family-oriented workers, but it can be advantageous by business owners as well. While headquarters and office centers may be needed for conferences and client meetings, eliminating office space could allow businesses to cut back spending on real estate. Goodbye 9-5 working day, you will not be missed.
2. A Shift Towards Digitalization
We’ve seen an increase in the use of communication tools like Zoom, Skype and WebEx during the pandemic to replace meetings. The effectiveness achieved by such tools could put an end to dreaded business trips, being both cost and time efficient.
Learning has been completely virtualized, and while we can’t ignore the value of in-person education, it’s probable that continuous education and seminars required by corporations and most occupational fields will be held by online educational platforms. Any in-person programs will likely be optional or reserved for more important functions.
We’ll see a spike in the use of these educational platforms in the months to come as people attempt to further develop their occupational skills, especially for workers who have lost their jobs during the crisis. This is particularly detrimental, as our era of digitalization brought upon us by COVID-19 accelerates automation. This has been, and will continue to, increase the use of machinery to replace basic and repetitive labor. After all, robots don’t get sick.
3. Increased Health Precautions
It comes with no surprise that mandatory health screenings will be the new norm when we go back to work. At least for the beginning stages, we can expect to see regular on-the-job medical screenings, including temperature and antibody checks. Social distancing requirements may end, but the ‘six-feet-apart’ mantra is engraved in our minds and it’s going to affect our actions.
Get ready, it’s time to wave goodbye to the handshake. As we compulsively wash our hands, our hygienic mannerisms have been improving drastically. Although an expression of respect, the handshake vastly contrasts our new habits and it could be time for it to go. Health expert Dr. Anthony Fauci agrees, “That is really one of the major ways that you can transmit a respiratory illness.” When COVID-19 finally makes its way out, it’ll take the handshake with it.
4. Reattirement
Business attire gives off a sense of professionalism, providing a sense of trustworthiness to clients and consumers. Over that past few weeks, most of us haven’t touched our typical work wardrobe. Instead, we’ve dressed down and enjoyed WFH in more casual clothes. This move towards informality is something that could be extremely prominent in the workplace once we return to our offices.
We won’t see the total elimination of business attire in the workplace; instead, it’s likely to be reserved for client meetings and other high profile occasions. After all, business attire provides a unique value that no other article of clothing does – it instils a level of credence and faith at just a glance.
5. A New Perspective
Right now, we’re experiencing a drought of socialization and it’s affecting us perhaps more than the virus itself. People are realizing their inner strengths and weaknesses and most importantly, they’re developing a higher sense of appreciation and gratitude. We miss our friends. We miss our colleagues. We miss complaining about our workload (wow, that’s something I never thought I’d say).
COVID-19 has made us value our humanity. When we go back to work, it won’t be as mundane as it once was. We’ll be promoting human interaction and community engagement – it’ll be far more social.
As humans, we’re hardwired to hate uncertainty and unpredictability. We get stressed out at the possibility of being late for work when morning traffic is worse than usual. We worry about getting fired when we don’t produce the level of work expected of us.
While COVID-19 has breached this unwelcome sense of panic, it has also challenged us, and if there’s one thing we’re good at, it’s adaptation.
Keep Your Business On Top
Our world is evolving as businesses adopt more modern practices. Here at Kala, we have a team of professionals to help you digitalize and market your business. Fill out the information below or give us a call at 888.287.3195 and we’ll be in touch!