The new normal of the workplace looks different for everyone around the world, but one thing companies all have in common are the lessons they have learned over the past few months.

Employers are now faced with the rare opportunity to completely uproot their workplace model to continue to embrace remote working capabilities, or lean back into what they’ve always known.

Research has proven that flexibility has numerous benefits, and that employees prefer it. It allows employees to have a healthier work-life balance, and also helps companies broaden their talent pool for a more diverse workforce.

However, many organizations have been wary of embracing flexibility due to the perceived lack of leadership. Still, the current crisis has unveiled that presenteeism and productivity are not mutually exclusive. In fact, flexible work arrangements have been found to better suit the needs of workers, thus allowing them to be more productive.

While this may indicate the end of office spaces, that is not necessarily the case. Offices are still valuable as they create a sense of community and collaboration that can be difficult to replicate virtually. 

Another potential downside to remote working is the inability to switch off at the end of the day. It is the responsibility of business leaders to educate employees on the importance of setting boundaries, particularly when working from home.