Future of Work
Pandemic has created a new trend in the work pattern which in fact elevated the concept of physical dimension of work. Companies remain in the midst of uncertainty created by the pandemic even though the vaccination rate is growing. Some of the firms prefer to have their employees at the office because of two main reasons. Firstly, monitoring of employees would be easier at office space. Even though in remote working it is possible to monitor employees through electronic methods it would be difficult to oversee the activities of most of the jobs especially in case of skilled work. Another reason is that office space encourages the exchange of ideas. Supervision and informal interaction are the two reasons that have been obviously attracting companies to have their employees at the offices.
Advancement of Technology facilitated the shift to remote work. The two powerful forces that could shape the future of work are the expansion of the workforce and the growing adoption of artificial intelligence. Uncertainty and the remote working trends have led companies to think on the office space requirement as well as on the location of workspace. Attitude of employees, proximity to clients, customers and amenities as well as office design are certain factors to be considered while making plans for offices since the decisions on size, locations and costs goes hand-in-hand. Many companies across the globe have experienced the convenience of online platforms during the pandemic. It has created an era of transformation where the e-commerce has witnessed a growth of two to five times the rate when compared to the situation before pandemic.
The extensive use of video conferencing especially during the pandemic has put a dent on business travel which in turn accompanied the acceptance of virtual aspects of work. The emphasis on hybrid model is also gaining acceptance. According to a survey conducted by Accenture says that about 83% of workers prefer hybrid model as optimal work mode since it offers better mental health, stronger work relationships as well as less burnout and stress when compared to those working entirely onsite or remotely.
References
https://hbr.org/2021/07/do-you-really-need-all-that-office-space
https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-work/the-future-of-work-after-covid-19
https://www.accenture.com/us-en/insights/consulting/future-work
