While the physical office has rebounded in popularity among many people who spent much of the past 24 months juggling both personal and work life at home from between the same four walls, it’s important to remember that in many locations, even at the height of Covid-19, many professional workers around the world never left their desks. This is particularly true of those based in the Middle East and across parts of Asia.
But whether your experience of work and the office was upended early in 2020, or it remained largely the same, looking ahead you are unlikely to be able to avoid change. Even in locations where office life continued unabated, many of the new flexible and hybrid methods of working that have been adopted elsewhere are likely to trickle into corporate practices – bringing with them the chance to address some of the major structural changes to the workforce facing occupiers in the coming decades.
From almost the start of the pandemic, many occupiers used the opportunity of empty or quieter offices to refresh, upgrade or reconfigure their space in preparation for more flexible and hybrid working, installing the technology required to allow for video calling and conferencing to ensure a seamless transition between those in the office and those working remotely.
While it may not have been occupiers’ original objective, this integration of technology has brought with it the opportunity to futureproof the workplace and make it more accessible to anyone who may find it difficult to access it or find the commute a challenge – namely those with disabilities, older workers, or those with caring responsibilities (typically women) who may work irregular hours outside the traditional nine to five. For these groups, being able to work from home (or another location) some of the time, while still connecting directly with their colleagues is likely to increase engagement and retention.
Given the age of the labour force is shifting in many countries around the world, particularly in those classified as developed, and won’t be replaced without significant in-migration, this is likely to prove essential. Attracting these groups of workers will be crucial to maintain a competitive advantage over competitors in the war for talent.
The physical improvements made to the office as consequence of the events of the last two years should help facilitate this, as will the more flexible attitudes and policies towards working practices adopted by many companies.
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