How Covid19 has changed outlook for office based working

How Covid19 has changed outlook for office based working

It is hard to imagine that people would have ever thought about living and working through a pandemic. The effects of the pandemic are still being felt the world over. But the dire situation has also brought about changes that were stuck in the pipeline for years on a stretch. The lockdown imposed to curb the COVID-19 spread made many companies make use of technology and turn to remote working to remain operational. The jury is still divided on whether remote working has a future or not. The remote working experiences shared by people also echo the same thought.

The jury is still out on whether the remote working quick fix can become a permanent fixture in the world of work or not. And what this increase in reliance on work from home or remote working means for the traditional office is a question that doesn’t have a right answer at the moment. The experts still believe that there are greater unknowns about remote working and its future that we still need to experience. There is no denying the fact that COVID-19 has reshaped our world forever. However, it is still early days to confidently predict what the future of work will look like in the post pandemic era.

Also Read: Covid-19 may result in culture of remote teams and inadvertently benefit the outsourcing industry

Changes to office based working

The pandemic has brought about several changes to the business world. Whether you are a software development agency in the UK or any other company in another part of the world, it is very important for you and your HR managers to study the impact that the pandemic is having on your business as well as others. This is how you will be able to assess the situation properly and identify the right path forward.

A lot of companies have started investing more on contingent workers than regular employees as a way to save money. It is very important for business leaders and HR managers to understand how these changes are changing how things get done and how people work. Businesses that are able to respond to these changes have an edge over their competitors.

In a survey conducted by Gartner, it was found that about 48% of the employees are open to working remotely for some hours from their weekly quota of work hours even after the pandemic. This figure stood at 30% before COVID-19 struck. This change in preference will have repercussions for both employees and employers. Employees will need to get used to the rigours of remote working and digital collaboration. On the other hand, employers will have to work on their employee experience strategies to make the more remote-specific. They will also need to do employee performance evaluations and goal setting differently.

People have started gathering for work but the time they spend in proximity with others is very limited. The work weeks that we all were used to has completely changed. This is one of biggest cultural shifts. With increase in remote working, many companies have started giving their employees access to co-working spaces, which is helping them avoid employee concentration at a single office.

Standard office work hours are fast becoming a thing of the past. Many companies have provided their employees relaxations in when they want to start or end their work day. Some have even allowed their employees to work their shifts at whatever time they feel comfortable. This has allowed employees to manage their home and work life in a better way. However, this flexibility is hampering the productivity of most remote workers. To make it work for both the parties involved, they have to come out with a solution that is beneficial fort them.

We looked at the changes that have taken place in the past few months. The change that we are going to talk about now is something that many companies are still not paying heed to. It has worked quite well for those who have adopted it. We are talking about the hybrid way of working.

Also Read: Impact of Covid19 on software outsourcing industry

The hybrid work model

From what we have seen and experienced, it is quite evident that the hybrid way of working – a combination of remote working and flexible office working – seems to be the most viable and accepted way of working that not a lot of people will have any problems with. The pandemic is still there and the social distancing norms in addition to other guidelines are still in effect. So you can’t allow all your employees to come to office, you can manage office attendance in such a way that it doesn’t violate any guidelines but facilitate interaction that is necessary in some tasks and projects.

A lot of bespoke software companies are thus calling only a small number of employees to office every day. This way, they are able to adhere to the guidelines and the same time, ensure the safety of their employees. Also, calling employees in different shifts is another way that is helping employers to remain operational without compromising on the health and safety of their employees. And all employees are being asked in advance whether they are comfortable working from office. Only those that don’t feel comfortable are being allowed to work remotely for an indefinite period. Others have to do a combination of work from office and remote working shifts.

This is how the hybrid way of working functions. It seems like the ideal approach to keep employees happy and not lose productive hours in the future. However, every business will have to look at all the possibilities and make a decision that works best for them.