The pandemic opened our eyes and made us rethink the way we have all been living our lives. The pandemic came as a lesson for life in this materialistic world where people had little time for themselves and their loved ones. The difficult phase showed us the importance of many aspects of life, that most of us had taken for granted. The post-pandemic world has changed many spheres and our workplace is one such area that has undergone a massive change.
Technology is upgrading at a faster pace to aid in the post-pandemic workplace and daily routines as well. Such as, in response to the pandemic and the effect of workspace dynamics, video conferencing applications that allow presentations came up. Online classes for students along with supervised examinations became a part of the same. While the working class found it easy to transition to a home office, others, like daily wage labourers and small business owners, experienced a hit during the first few months. Thus, the changes that we’ve adopted have had an overall effect on our personal and professional lives.
In this blog, Gharpedia shares some amazing post-pandemic workplace transformations that will change the way we see our workspaces.
5 Post-Pandemic Workplace Transformations that Will Affect Our Work Environments
As the pandemic isn’t going to clear off completely, solutions emerged for work issues as a sustainable change that everyone would follow. Let’s explore some of the changes that we see in the workplace post-pandemic:
01. Socially Distanced Seating Arrangement
The pandemic has certainly pushed us into the confines of our homes. But, some industries must operate from work premises. The goal here is to take the precautions necessary to protect the employees from the pandemic. With the need for being careful in a public atmosphere like an office, you could soon see cubicle designs to fit in the Covid-compliant office design.
Instead of closely arranged adjacent workspaces, cubicles could face each other with a minimum gap to maintain social distancing while working. This can also mean an increase in the sizes of desks, which have been decreasing over the years. This way, the pandemic could have a possible hand in reshaping the layout of the office.
02. Remote Working: The Future of Offices in a Post-Pandemic World
One of the natural things all of us did when the pandemic hit was to stay home and be safe. But we couldn’t possibly halt our work for long. This brought the concept of working from home into the light, and now it has become the future of offices in a post-pandemic world. Houses become the primary spot for working, thus pulling out the need to work at an office.
Working from a home office doesn’t mean the four walls of your home are the limit. If you have the necessary equipment with you to do the everyday office work, you could even be sitting in a shack in Hawaii and working comfortably. This has mobilized the idea of working remotely, not only from your home but from any part of the world. This would require you to travel with precautionary measures.
03. Increasing the Use of Smart Technologies
With the need to connect with many people at once, when in-person meetings are unsafe, technology has come to the rescue. When one can see a person a mile away through the phone, then why not conduct business meetings and presentations the same way? Making this feasible and easy are several applications that came out.
The use of technology has shot up during this time to make use of the skills one has, and it’s a significant post-pandemic workplace transformation. Whether it’s cooking or designing, one can earn and establish a business with the help of the Internet. At an uncertain time like the pandemic, when work opportunities and growth prospects came to a halt, taking it upon ourselves to start something of our own becomes useful in the long run. Along with these, many other technological developments have taken place to make use of the time the pandemic has lent us.
04. Redesigning the Post-Pandemic Workplace for Balance between Social and Private Space
Privacy is a factor we rarely have in an office space. Most office spaces are more about being interactive and engaging employees in team activities. This has seen an increase in the productivity of employees as well. Given that, there needs to be a better way of allocating spaces, both private and group, to maintain a balance in the working atmosphere.
A study conducted to measure the total work environment of workers found that most open spaces accounted for high performance and productivity. Given that, the privacy of the space, focusing ability and noise are all contributing factors to a quality workspace. The key here is redesigning the post-pandemic workplace, considering the perfect balance between socializing spaces and productive private spaces.
05. Well Being is the Key
An overall assessment of employee experience in a company includes the factor of employee well-being. This would tell one how likely the person is to stay at the office and continue working there. Pandemic or no pandemic, unless the working atmosphere of the firm is pleasant, employees will lack the motivation to put their best foot forward.
Emotional and mental wellness can have a serious and direct impact on an employee’s productivity levels. The lack of a good working atmosphere will ultimately affect the company. Companies have realised this and have been paying attention to providing better working conditions in the workplace post-pandemic.
On a final note, the pandemic has brought more attention to what we do daily. It has given us a reason to reanalyze how we live and work in different environments. This has led to taking note of aspects like space, convenience, distance, movement, and communication in a deeper sense. Paying attention to these and implementing solutions and changes can be helpful in the long run.
FAQs
01. What Changes Can We Expect in the Post-Pandemic Workplace?
The most natural change across sectors is the implementation of a remote work setup. This not only saves on the cost of possible refurbishing but also makes sure to keep the employees safe. It also brings the comfort of working from home, with everything necessary at an arm’s distance.
02. Will Remote Work Become More Common in the Post-Pandemic Workplace?
Yes, remote work has become more common in office space post-pandemic. Remote working has advantages for both employees and the company. Employees can save their travel time, have flexibility in their working hours and manage their personal lives, while the company can save on the cost of space, security, etc. Remote work makes it easier to achieve a healthy work-life balance.
03. How Do We Remain Careful At The Workplace During The Pandemic?
Taking the necessary precautions is key to staying healthy during the pandemic. Measures like wearing a mask everywhere outside your house, traveling less in crowded places, keeping your distance from others etc. can keep you safe. Also, carry sanitizer everywhere you go.
04. What Types of Technology Will Be Important in the Post-Pandemic Workplace?
COVID-19 has accelerated the use of digital platforms that enable companies to provide a safe working environment. Post-pandemic, new technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), and machine learning are very popular. It will save money and limit person-to-person contact.
05. Are There Advantages To The Changes Happening At The Workplace?
The changes happening in the workplace are advantageous, as they have brought in many positive aspects that might have gone unnoticed pre-pandemic. The essential aspect of workplace atmosphere, the importance of health, the benefits of remote working, and the importance of teamwork bring into light how an office space can improve in its functioning. The use of technology has not only made the pandemic easier to go through but also reduced the hectic sessions of in-person meetings to a single screen.
06. Will the Post-Pandemic Workplace Be More or Less Flexible than Before the Pandemic?
Post-pandemic office space has become more flexible than before. Employees have become more productive because they are working from the locations of their choice. With a flexible schedule, employees feel a healthier work-life balance and are satisfied with their job.
07. What are the Disadvantages of Such Changes?
The people factor is one of the biggest post-pandemic workplace issues. It is a major aspect missing from all the changes that the pandemic has brought. There is a lack of connection between employees. This poses a problem when new employees come into companies and need guidance from experienced employees. This also takes away their chance at being a part of a traditional office setting.
08. How can Employers Ensure the Safety of Their Employees in a Post-Pandemic Workplace?
First, employers should encourage employees to get vaccinated. Also, they must ensure the health and hygiene of employees at work, including clear hygiene measures, deep cleaning in the company, and a good quality air filtration system.
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Author Bio
Saili Sawantt – She is an Architect and Interior Designer by profession. Writing is what she treats as her passion. She has worked as an Architectural Writer, Editor, and Journalist for various design as well as digital portals, both national and international. Formerly she has also worked with Godrej Properties Limited (GPL) Design Studio, Mumbai, due to her keen interested in learning about Sustainability and Green buildings. Apart from this, she runs her blog ‘The Reader’s Express’ and is a practicing Architect & Interior Designer.
