Dr. Gleb Tsipursky – The Office Whisperer
Nirit Cohen – WorkFutures
Angela Howard – Culture Expert
Drew Jones – Design & Innovation
Jonathan Price – CRE & Flex Expert
The concept of work has changed before our eyes as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to plague several parts of the world.
According to freelance writer Den Howlett, the pandemic has revealed a fragility about many businesses that was unknown prior to the pandemic. This has opened up the topic of what work is, what it means and how companies should operate moving forward.
For instance, measuring success has evolved from how much time has been put into one’s work, to the actual outcome and quality of work. Before companies were forced to transition to remote working positions, business leaders were wary of adopting these arrangements due to the misconception that workers are less motivated and having no way to measure their productivity. But what does productivity mean?
Time spent is clearly not a true indicator of how efficient a worker is since it does not take into consideration the varying operating methods each person uses. Monitoring employees constantly indicates a lack of trust, thus hindering satisfaction and productivity overall.
What has become evident is the lack of work as a human experience. More specifically, women and people of color have been found to be disproportionately impacted by job losses caused by the pandemic. Even those who have worked remotely for years are experiencing new mental health problems due to the overall uncertainty that continues to float in the air.
Overall, the current situation has undoubtedly been the source of much loss, but also has the potential to provide more opportunities to create a more human-oriented workforce.
