The world’s largest work-from-home experiment unexpectedly began earlier this year when millions of companies were forced to transition to a mostly remote workforce due to the ongoing pandemic. Several months in, most obstacles have been overcome and leaders have realized the various benefits of this work arrangement.
Although working from home has its perks, such as no commutes and flexible hours, there are indeed disadvantages. Now, workers are facing issues of isolation, lack of collaboration with colleagues and distractions of being at home.
In order to find a balance between the two, companies should start adopting a hybrid model that allows employees to choose when and where they work.
While some workers are itching to come back to a physical workplace, this can’t happen without a major design revamp. Now, office operators need to become more conscious of density of the space and enforce distancing rules, as well as sanitation guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
While there has been a decrease in demand for office space due to most employees working from home, this is expected to be offset by companies looking for more office space to accommodate distancing practices.
With this, there is a clear need for emphasizing overall health and wellness in the office. Beyond installing sanitation stations, workspaces should also take into account how improved air ventilation, natural light and materials and having both indoor and outdoor space can improve the productivity and wellness of workers.
