We had been following the same work routines for ages to go to the offices.
But who had even thought that a virus-like corona will put everything standstill one day?
Just after 15th March, companies started to give WFH having thought in the mind after a few days they will get back to office routines. But it’s coming mid of June now, most of the workplaces are still shut. Nobody is sure whether the decision of calling people back in workplaces will lead to normal life as it was before a pandemic or it may be one of their worst decision to call them back if the virus spreads there on the workplace too.
But the question is till when?
As a virus gets weaker only by mutations and its takes around 3 to 5 years to develop a proper vaccine after so many trials. Shall we wait for 5 years to get back to our normal lives? No, Right?
WFH has become new normal and it has its own Pros and cons. But the biggest question that arises here is will the employees feel the same getting back to the office as they used to feel before this pandemic shook up our lives? Many of us are starting to envisage a time when we can stop working at our study tables/laptop tables and return to the office. Yet, in the absence of a vaccine, aspects of modern workplaces will have to change if employees are to safely return to their desks.
- The first phase of resuming office life will involve making basic changes to keep employees safe and allay fears: As everyone is scared to step out their houses so every organization has to make it sure that their employees are safe. From the medical screening of employees to sanitization of workplaces to maintain social distancing, a lot has to be taken care of apart from the regular errands.
- Flexi-working will be the new normal: Earlier WFH was a kind of privilege given by only a few organizations but now WFH will be treated as normal as normal office working. This will reduce the number of leaves in a year and increase productivity and focus on goal achievement. Organizations will not require big parking spaces and cafeteria spaces to entertain all employees. This cost-cutting can be used in employee welfare by introducing new policies by HR.
- Co-working spaces will be preferred rather than conventional office spaces: Co-working spaces have always ranked at top priority when it comes to cost-effectiveness. These working spaces will be the first preference for many businesses as they are the most cost-effective and flexible time periods for rentals. Moreover, organizations cannot continue WFH for a longer time as most of them have operations that require a high level of supervision which is only possible in a formal office setting.
- Respect for work-life balance: Finally, because of COVID, organizations are recognizing that working from 9 to 5 is unsuited to a modern workforce. Leaders can put greater emphasis on flexibility for their employees to accomplish their best work with no harm to work productivity and to their health. They can reinforce the new cultural norms based on performance, which can result in exponential growth for an organization. Policies and procedures need to reflect these shifted norms, and the leaders should model a true work-life blend.
- Increased trust, transparency, and empathy: Both employees and leaders must understand and support each other in all possible ways like never before. Employees are sharing more about their personal situations and conditions with their colleagues, as a result, they are creating an expectation of humanity, support, and compassion.
To summarize, the whole credit for such transformation goes to Information technology, it has made this dream come true. All we need is to make proper policies, guidelines for work from the office and home, the rotational requirement of the employee in the office or home, support to execute these policies to make a win-win situation for both, employee and employer.
We are standing in front of a new world of work culture, and it is time for us to embrace the change.
