The Pandemic Is Long Over — But Its Impact On How We Work Is Here To Stay
It remains to be seen which of the current options prevails.
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Subscribe for free to get more stories like this directly to your inboxWhen COVID-19 began spreading around the globe, part of the ensuing health crisis meant almost everybody but the so-called “essential” workers found themselves working remotely. Although the shift took some getting used to, many employees quickly came to prefer working from home and some studies determined that there was no significant negative impact on productivity.
Five years later
As we approach the fifth anniversary of the first documented case of COVID-19, it’s clear that many of the measures we took throughout 2020 and beyond are no longer in place. Face mask mandates and social distancing signs are gone … but the remote work revolution is still fighting for its survival.
At the risk of oversimplifying things, the situation basically breaks down to a difference of perspective. Employers have several overt or implied incentives for getting workers back into the office, such as:
- Filling unused office space
- Encouraging in-person collaboration
- Clarifying boundaries
To be clear, many employees also prefer to work in the office. But many of those who enjoy the freedoms associated with remote work are fighting to keep them.
One increasingly popular method seems to offer something to both sides.
Hybrid work
In order to maximize flexibility while maintaining a healthy office culture, many companies are adopting a third option that combines elements of both in-office and remote work. Employees are able to work from home some days while showing up in person on others.
Some issues, such as unused office space and glitchy teleconference meetings, might still persist, albeit to a lesser extent. Nevertheless, an array of employers have earned high marks from their workforce for embracing the compromise.
Other companies, however, are taking a more hard-line approach. Several major corporations, including Disney, Amazon, and Salesforce, recently announced their own return-to-office policies.
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