Returning To The Office In An Optimal Way

Now that about half of U.S. adults have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, it is inevitable that people are starting to return to the workplace.

After over a year of working from home, the post-pandemic workplace will be dependent upon employers’ preference. This could range from permanent remote working policies, a hybrid model or a total return to pre-pandemic strategies.

And so far, it appears that this decision varies across different industries. For instance, Microsoft has been liberal with their remote working policies, while Goldman Sachs’ CEO said that this arrangement was an “aberration.”

According to Harvard Business School professor Prithwiraj (Raj) Choudhury, companies need to think deeply about their next move before making significant organizational changes.

He suggests that in order for companies to make the best transition to a post-pandemic workplace, they will need to consider the employee experience and what workers, particularly women, expect from their workplace.

While many companies focus on the needs of younger employees, the past year has disproportionately impacted women in the workforce, so finding ways to bring them back in will be crucial.

Additionally, Choudhury explains that companies may turn to cutting down on real estate to help reduce some costs. For instance, eXp Realty transitioned to a remote workforce after the financial crisis, which allowed them to put more money into talent and an employee stock program.

“They had no need to raise tons of money from VCs early on and he had lots of equity he could share with agents,” said Choudhury.