2021: A year in review of working during the coronavirus pandemic

With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the working world has changed greatly over the past year or so, with more people working from home than ever. Working from home has also changed the way that many workplaces and employees think about working and it is something that is likely to change the working world for good.

How we have learned to work from home

One of the main issues with working from home is working effectively and trying to stay productive. There are more distractions when working from home and it is harder for staff to monitor their employees, however many employees also enjoy working from home as it gives them more flexibility and freedom. Employers have had to learn to trust their employees to work productively and employees have had to learn how to work from home effectively.

A lot of companies have started using programs such as ‘Teams’ or ‘Slack’ so that they can communicate with workers at home – a lot of these programs have been continued to be used, even when workers have returned to the office.

How offices have been affected

Offices have been greatly been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. As well as many workers now working from home, a lot of offices have been changed to accommodate the pandemic restrictions. Countless offices have set up screens between desks and desks have been moved away from each other to comply with the 2 metre rule. Hygiene has become a top priority for a lot of offices, with hand sanitiser, proximity sensors and COVID testing kits being provided.

Do offices still have a place in a post-COVID world?

Despite home working becoming more prominent, offices do still have a place in a post-COVID world. Working in an office can make it easier for teams and colleagues to work together – if people are working from home, it may be harder for employees to complete work, as they are separated from each other. Offices can also boost employee wellbeing and productivity – they also help to keep work and home life separate.

The social benefits of working from home

There are many social benefits from working from home – those working from home may have more time to spend with family if other family members are working from home and working from home means that workers may not have to spend time commuting into work, which means they might have more time to socialise at home or out with friends. However, working in the office also has some social benefits, with employees being able to interact with other colleagues – some home workers may also feel isolated when working at home, especially if there is a lockdown occurring.

For more information on how you can benefit from working from home or in the office, contact Virtus Contracts today.