Downsize your closet. Upsize your technology. - Workplace changes that are here to stay. 

It’s now been one year since cases of COVID-19 began to be confirmed around the world. It’s been a year of unprecedented change - national lockdowns, travel restrictions, and adjustments to the way do almost everything - from grocery shopping to doctor’s appointments to education and more.

This global tsunami of change created tipping points in the world of work and it’s becoming apparent that many of those changes are here to stay. New habits that we have developed and relied on over the past year will continue to be a part of our work-life through 2021 and beyond. 

What changes did we see in 2020? 

• Remote work became the norm as employees worked from home offices alongside their homeschool children. 

• Zoom was the word of 2020. 

• Business travel came to a sudden, screeching halt.

• Telemedicine, online grocery shopping, and online education accelerated from novelty to normality almost overnight. 

The big question is “Which of these changes are here to stay?”. As more people are vaccinated, 2021 will be, hopefully, a year of slowly transitioning back to a non-quarantine life. What will the world of work look like post-pandemic -  in 2022 and beyond? 

I’ve rounded up a few of the most interesting predictions and added my two cents. Let me know what you think. 

Remote work is here to stay.

“Work From Home,” also known as WFH, or remote work was one of the biggest changes we experienced. 

Employees worked from home and regained the hour or more normally lost to commutes. Companies found that employees could be productive workers outside the 9-5 corporate office. After being a fringe option offered by just a few companies, WFH became the norm - and both companies and their employees liked it.

“According to McKinsey research, 80 percent of people questioned report that they enjoy working from home. Forty-one percent say that they are more productive than they had been before and 28 percent that they are as productive. Many employees liberated from long commutes and travel have found more productive ways to spend that time, enjoyed greater flexibility in balancing their personal and professional lives, and decided that they prefer to work from home rather than the office”.

It’s clear that remote work is here to stay. This one has been coming for several years, and the pandemic and resulting work-from-home mandates simply put it on speed skates. Many companies are planning to continue using remote workers indefinitely and some are building it into their long-term business model. 

Sadly, we will most likely see an even greater chasm between those who work professional jobs in which they have the possibility of WFH and those whose jobs can’t be done remotely - everyone from healthcare professionals, janitors, hairdressers, welders, etc.

3-2-2 may become the new 9-5. 

The Monday-Friday, 40 hour workweek may begin to feel antiquated as work schedules morph into new forms. 3-2-2 may become the new 9-5. 

According to a LinkedIn News Report, “Companies may let employees work from home two or more days per week, with some opting for three days in office, two days remote and then two days off — a 3-2-2 workweek, if you will — according to Ashley Whillans, a professor at Harvard Business School. Some employers may even cut down to a four-day workweek altogether.” 

Flextime and work-at-home time are most likely here to stay in some form; however, companies will expect work teams to coordinate their schedules to make the most of their ‘together in-person time.’ Work teams will be expected to synchronize their work schedule, but may not be expected to hold to the traditional weekday 9-5 rule.

Part-time work arrangements may make a comeback as burned-out parents opt for a more flexible lifestyle. Part-time positions may help with employee retention and give working parents more options.

Home and office layouts will be reconfigured.

As reported in the Washington Post, office furniture stores are reporting record sales of home office furniture as work from home employees find working from the kitchen table or sofa both non-functional and hard on the back.

At home, those big open-space great rooms may morph into something a little more WFH friendly. House hunters will begin shopping for homes with an office or private workspace, away from the hustle and noise of family life and with a door that closes. 

LIkewise, offices are rethinking both the amount of real estate needed as well as its configuration. Once you return to your office, it may not look the same. Corporate offices are looking at changes that will create more flexible workspaces, rather than too close together cubicle farms.

“Somewhere between private cubicles and completely open offices is what Gensler’s head of workplace research, Janet Pogue McLaurin, calls a “team zone.” With people expected to come to the office primarily to work in person with their teams — leading to louder conversations and the risks of large groups in a small space — they have begun designing corporate spaces that might offer modular furniture for both individual seating and group spaces housed within “suites” or “neighborhoods” that have full wall dividers,” reports the Washington Post.

The Washington Post also reports social distancing and safety are also being considered.

“In its Amsterdam offices, commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield said it has developed a prototype where carpet tiles can delineate a six-foot radius around a desk. It offers disposable paper mats that employees can place on shared desks before laying down their laptops or keyboards. A circular “safe zone” sign on the floor of an elevator shows where to stand.”

More casual workwear may become an acceptable norm. 

Who hasn’t seen a meme about no-pants Zoom meetings? We’ve all gotten used to being a little - or a lot - more comfortable while we work. 

Retails sales reflected that norm early in the pandemic. According to Forbes, “In the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic, sales of pants dropped 14% across all retailers, while sales of tops increased. The reason is simple: with more people working from home and communicating via video, workers only need to look professional from the waist up. Unlike when working in the office, wearing sweat pants with a blouse is completely acceptable at home.”

As professionals have gotten used to dressing more casually, we can expect to see the dress code in workplaces shift to allow “casual Friday” to happen more often. Some companies are already creating policies that reflect a “dress for your day” vibe. If you have meetings planned, wear a suit. If not, dress more casually. While we can expect fields like banking and accounting to retain more formal business wear, other workplaces may adopt a more laid back vibe. 

It’s time to upsize your tech.

We all found that out this year. The better your technology, the easier the shift to remote work. We all need updated computers, proper video chat lighting, an extra monitor at home, and more. Go ahead and spend the money. It’s going to be worth it. Tech is here to stay.

As you might guess, computer sales are way up in the last 12 months - due to at-home work and homeschooling. That’s not going to end any time soon. 

Technology shifts are happening in all fields. We’re seeing telemedicine become an accepted part of life. Online teaching is all too real for parents and both parents and teachers have found that some, although certainly not all, students thrive in an at-home environment. On-line options for education may continue well beyond the pandemic. 

Fast Company reports that video conferencing may soon go beyond Zoom.  “The design firm Argodesign has created a concept called the Square. It’s an artificial window, created from an LCD screen that goes on the wall next to your desk. When you raise the shade, you can see a coworker, or two, working right there next to you. You can strike up a conversation, or ignore them. You can gossip, or hold a productive meeting. Just like a real office.”

Business travel is out - at least for 2021. 

With continued restrictions and requirements for travel, as well as mandatory two-week quarantines, both recreational and business travel is at an all-time low and most likely won’t resume until vaccinations are globally widespread. Again, Zoom and other video conferencing software will be in demand as business meetings and professional conferences go virtual. 

For some, this shift will necessitate even more change. Airlines, which have relied on business travel dollars in the past, may have to shift to new models. The professional networking that happens at conferences will move online and will rely more on technology. Others note that the shift to online conferencing may make professional conferences more affordable and accessible for smaller companies and solopreneurs.  

Sick days will become stay at home days.

The old 100% attendance goal in school needs to go. If you’re sick, we now accept that it’s best to keep your germs at home. Same goes for the workplace. Workers may have options to work from home when they feel a cold coming on or may be given options to stay home with sick children to prevent spreading disease. (Ok - maybe this one is wishful thinking on my part - but it’s a great idea.)

One thing we know for sure is that the office and world of work in the future will look quite different than what we have known as “normal” in the pre-COVID days.

What are your predictions? What changes do you see happening in this new era of coping with COVID?

Anita Flowers is a Board Certified career and life coach at Blue Sage Career Strategies. A little different than most life coaches, Anita’s background in clinical psychology and years of experience as a counselor gives her a rich understanding of human development and family dynamics. Her work history includes 13 years working with an international business company and 12 years doing individual and family counseling as well as career counseling. This blend of counseling and business experience gives Anita a unique perspective on the world of work and life. Anita works with people literally all over the world to help them discover a life and career they love. Contact Anita here to get started on your new career and life!