As the year comes to an end, organisations are evaluating their return to work strategies, concentrating on employee safety and comfort. Here are a few workplace trends that may emerge in 2021
This has been a landmark year in more ways than one bringing about a new normal in all aspects. It has disrupted both personal and professional lives and accelerated the work from home culture, blending both worlds. We got comfortable with status quo, even in the form of adoring a casual attire instead of dressing up for work.
While this new trend felt like a welcome change from the earlier working style, it also brought about several setbacks for employees. With increased work hours; people were spending more time indoors, which coupled with social isolation has caused a lot of stress. This is a critical issue that needs to be addressed in the coming months. Many professionals also found work from home a challenge due to lack of a dedicated home office setup, lagging internet connectivity, lack of proper ergonomic furniture, issues in collaborating with colleagues, unwanted distractions, acoustics and privacy issues.
Going forward, the focus will largely be on enabling a smoother transition to from home and on-premise environments with technology as a key catalyst. The latter has brought with it some positive changes and made us acknowledge the things that we will need in the future for a smooth and comfortable working scenario. The underlying message here is for workplace design that catalyses the drive to return to work, feeling safe and worry free. In this light, here are a few workplace trends that may emerge in 2021.
Employee-centric policies
This has been the most stressful year for employees across various professions. Companies are now trying to address the critical aspect of employee mental health through regular counseling and well-being sessions and seminars. It will most likely continue as a major trend in the coming year. Companies can no longer just be in business to make profit. They must now make a difference to the society, especially during these times of hardship and political and social polarisation. Employees are also asking companies to give them flexible work schedules, safe office facilities, paid leave, childcare, training and mental health support. Several organisations have declared work from home as a permanent working option to its employees allowing them to feel safer and more in control in these unforeseen times.
Safety first
Employees are now choosing safety of the work environment over opportunities for professional growth. They expect companies to keep their facilities clean, communicate regularly about their reopening status, and maintain safe working conditions. However, several companies are integrating technology to ensure workers safety. For instance, some have an automated temperature elevation detection solution to spot COVID-19 infections in buildings. Whereas, some companies have an automated contact tracing tool that notifies employees who have been in contact with another worker who tested positive for the virus.
A hybrid workplace and workforce
Instead of taking extreme approaches to work environments, many companies have a hybrid approach. In such a scenario, employees come into the office for a few days, while working remotely for the rest. They also try to plan the schedules in such a way that every person comes into the office on specified days which also allows the company to maintain the overall occupancy. The hybrid workplace model allows for structure and sociability (at an office) while offering independence and flexibility (at home).
Growing demand for retraining and reskilling
COVID-19 has disrupted the global economy, widening the skills gap. An increase in job automation catalyses the demand for retraining. With a shift in businesses and economic demands, the skills required to do the new jobs are also created. Retraining and up-skilling workers will become even more of a need heading into 2021 because of shifting markets and growing investments in new technology. Both of these can be attributed to the impact of the pandemic. The larger skills gap has also made it imperative to provide more training for employees to support the digital transformation needs and speed of change. Many of these technologies, like contact tracing, collaborative tools, and AI-driven software, have been widely adopted to support employee mental health and increase productivity while allowing for flexibility and safety.
The current situation has put to test many of our ideas and thought processes about ourselves and the world around us. This includes the purpose and design of the workplace. The pandemic has not yet run its course but organisations are already creating and evaluating their return to work strategies to breathe new life into the workplace concentrating on employee safety and comfort. As we move into the new year, workplace design will be a combination of collaboration, aesthetics, and experience, allowing the employees to feel safe and cared for.
(The writer Swaviman Das is Design Director, Space Matrix.)