- Remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted inefficiencies with the traditional office model
- More casual workplaces emerge, with greater understanding for employee circumstances among both employers and clients
- Automation likely to accelerate as a result of remote work
The widespread shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic has affected how employers assess productivity in a variety of ways. The change has led to a greater acceptance of flexibility, upsetting rigid practices that were the norm when workers congregated in an office space.
Employers have largely shown a willingness to accept more work-life balance in employees’ workdays, as workers take care of children and perform other household tasks alongside their job. The greater trust among employers that their workers will put in a productive day’s work is a marked shift from office practices, such as strict limits on lunch breaks or personal appointments. Clients have also been more accepting of behaviors that would once have been considered unprofessional, such as business calls made from home.
In addition, remote work has fueled a stronger shift toward automation. The new working arrangements have highlighted inefficiencies with companies’ traditional models, but also forced them to come up with automated solutions if they have reduced their workforce during the pandemic.
