Offices, retail spaces, and warehouses have all been permanently transformed by the pandemic, but are these changes for the better? Let’s take a look at five ways the pandemic permanently transformed the workplace:
A Desire For Change
The pandemic helped many businesses reassess the environment and working dynamic they offer employees. For some, that meant boosting the healthcare and support available to workers. For others, it meant focusing on inclusion and diversity in the workplace.
People all over the world are demanding a fairer, more supportive environment that actively recognizes the true value of all employees.
This can be seen in all elements of the business world, including the hiring processes, Human Resources, employee support, and workplace health and safety.
The Rise Of The Remote Working Model
Remote work was well on the way to being a future goal for many businesses before the pandemic. However, once the pandemic came along and sent a huge amount of workers home, it brought these goals forward for many companies.
They were forced to set up emergency remote working systems and accommodate this new process.
This way of working is set to continue as companies recognize the benefits of happier employees, more productivity, a larger global talent pool, and the potential to downsize expensive physical offices.
Information gathered during peak pandemic times showed that around 50% of people wanted to continue working from home after the pandemic threat subsided, so many employees have jumped on board too.
Despite all its atrocities, the pandemic also offered the final push many businesses needed to try out the remote working model. When they found that employees didn’t slack off – in fact, they were more productive – this was all the evidence they needed to make this model a more permanent fixture.
Hygiene Boost
Various studies have shown that germs in the workplace are rife. Copy machines, computer keypads, door handles, and other commonly touched surfaces are the worst for collecting bacteria that make us sick.
Cleaning and hygiene were always important, but clearly not enough. In the post-pandemic, clinical levels of hygiene are expected everywhere. There is a joint responsibility between the employer and employees to do their bit. Signs, gels, professional cleaning, and other measures are expected of employers.
Employees are expected to wash their hands regularly, utilize antibacterial gel stations, and otherwise maintain vigilant hygiene. The workplace has never been so clean, and that’s unlikely to change moving forward.
It’s A Group Effort
Everybody had their place in the workplace pre-pandemic. While collaboration was always valued, this unprecedented global emergency made effective teamwork essential – it became an “all hands on deck” scenario.
The concept of collaboration took on a new meaning, and everybody’s input to get around all manner of problems was incredibly valuable. Moving forward, many businesses have upgraded and expanded their communication channels as they recognize that it takes a team effort to keep things going when challenges arise.
Nature Is Our Salvation
During lockdowns, many families recognized how precious nature is. Whether it was through local nature walks, getting into the houseplant trend (like over 30 million US households), or nurturing a veggie patch, nature became our salvation during really challenging times.
Workplaces have recognized this, embracing biophilic design, or at the very least allowing for plants on desks, natural art, and views of the surrounding area.
How has the pandemic changed your workplace? Overall, it seems that it has pushed many businesses in a positive direction, which is certainly a silver lining of a truly challenging and world-changing catastrophe.