The COVID-19 outbreak has had a significant impact on work environments all over the world. Because of the strict quarantine rules, remote work has become the norm. But as the news of potential vaccines and declining infection rates come in, many are asking whether the trend will continue. So, let’s take a look at what post-COVID-19 remote work will look like in a few months.
Increased demand for post-COVID remote work
One thing that many assume would happen once the COVID-19 pandemic gradually starts to die down is that the demand for remote work will also begin to decline. This is due to the belief that companies will want to return to their usual working schedule. However, labor experts think otherwise and expect to see an increase in remote work demands.
According to their forecasts, around 48% of employees are likely to work remotely post-COVID compared to just 30% before the pandemic. Furthermore, over a third of employees would be willing to take pay cuts just to have the option. All of these stem from a desire for better preparedness during disasters like COVID.
The changing perspective about remote work
However, it is not only the employees who are leaning more towards remote work. Despite the initial rocky start, executives see the potential that long-term remote work can offer. They have also overcome initial fears about employees not working when unsupervised at home.
One of the biggest reasons for companies’ change of heart is the cost-saving opportunities that post-COVID remote work offers. With employees working from the comforts of their homes, companies can save a lot on expenses like utilities and rent. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted these savings more, with the ensuing economic recession forcing companies to look for ways to cut down on their expenses.
Travel has also become less of a concern during a remote work setup. This goes not just for employees getting to work but also for executives having to attend meetings. Companies can expect to save as much as $11,000 a year per employee who works remotely half of the time.
They have also recognized remote work as a way to maintain sustainability. The idea of sustainable business has been around for years with companies reflecting on their environmental impact. But with the COVID-19 pandemic keeping everyone at home, that impact becomes more visible. People now see a reduction in traffic, congestion, and pollution. And for environmentally-conscious employers and employees, this is always a welcomed motivator for adapting remote work.
Changes in post-COVID remote work
As post-COVID remote work becomes the new normal, you can also expect it to evolve further. The ongoing pandemic has demonstrated remote work’s long-term applicability. Now, companies are looking for ways to make it more integral to their workflow. The following are just some of the changes that will likely happen.
Expanded data collection
One of the worries many companies had during the early stages of COVID-19-induced remote work is whether their employees can perform unsupervised. As such, they sought ways to track their team efectively.
Companies are likely to expand more on these methods to gather more data about their employees’ performance outside the regular office setting. Some will focus more on productivity while others would be concerned more on employee well-being and determine how this affects performance.
They will also resort more to non-traditional means of ltracking employees. These include virtual workspace tracking and email scraping, which provide more detailed pictures of their activities. Employees themselves have become more comfortable with these in exchange for their remote work opportunities.
Going mobile
The sudden shift to remote work during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic also had an impact on the work tools that employees have. Many found that their home computers are not sufficient for the work at hand. For that, companies have looked for ways to expand their teams’ set of tools.
One way that they have done this is by going mobile. With smartphones having capabilities beyond just calling and messaging, they became a useful supplement for desktop computers and laptops. Employees now use their phones for video conferencing and even accomplishing certain tasks. For post-COVID remote work, companies will likely create more mobile-friendly virtual workspaces to let employees work on their devices.
Preparing your business for post-COVID remote work
With all the developments, post-COVID remote work will be coming sooner than later. As such, you need to get your business ready to embrace it. Here are the steps that you need to undertake.
Rethink how work is down
The first step to do is identifying the essential processes in your business and determining how they can be done remotely. It would help to get your employees involved in the reimagining, as they will be able to tell what works based on their experiences. You should also consider how in-office culture can be replicated virtually, as these also play a role in efficient work.
Redesign the workspace
It is also a must for you to start redesigning your company’s physical workspaces into ones that more effectively integrate with work from home policies. For instance, you can begin the reduction of office cubicles if you expect a significant portion of your team to work remotely from here on. Additionally, you need to provide tools and spaces that your remote and in-person teams can use to collaborate seamlessly.
Provide more flexibility for future employees
With all the changes in your current work environment, you also need to give future hires more options for remote work. For example, you can give them the option of choosing the cities to live in instead of having them move to your city of operations. This strategy will be a great way to attract more talent into your fold.
Get ready to embrace post-COVID remote work
The advent of post-COVID remote work is likely one of the biggest trends that will happen next year. And with all the challenges that businesses have endured this year, you should be more than ready to embrace it. Get set to bring your company into this new era of business.