Returning to the workplace post-Covid – what’s changed?

As Covid-19 has swept across the globe, the way in which we work has undergone a rapid transformation. At the same time, so have our priorities. In addition to new social distancing regulations, a new outlook on the way we utilise our communal workspaces has completely shifted the conventional office dynamic – whether for better or for worse.

So, with so many conflicting opinions bouncing around, what should we expect to see?

A STRONGER DESIRE TO DEFINE BLURRED BOUNDARIES

Gone are the days of sticking to a rigid schedule and tethering yourself to your desk for eight hours per day. For those of us who have been working from makeshift workspaces in our homes, the strangely short commute to the kitchen table may well be starting to take its toll. Without a distinct division between our personal and professional lives, our performance and ability to be fully present in both will undoubtedly suffer.

In an office environment, we tend to act in accordance with social cues – perhaps setting a clear arrival or departure time, or allocating specific time frames to each task. As soon as we leave the office, these cues weaken or even disappear entirely, leaving us more prone to procrastination. However, surrounding ourselves with like-minded others helps to keep us in the right frame of mind. In smaller businesses, communal workspaces can be a lifeline for a little social interaction, whether that’s before, during or after their working day begins.

A STEADY SHIFT TO DISTRACTION-FREE WORKSPACES

 As our homes morphed into impromptu offices, many people experienced a sudden spike in productivity as the hustle and bustle of office life subsided. With fewer incoming phone calls and less time-consuming chit-chat with colleagues, these employees found a newfound ability to fully focus on the task at hand.

On the flip side, those with children or other family commitments may have struggled to find a moment to step aside from the chaos and carry out even the smallest of tasks, such as making an important phone call. Regardless of the reasoning, even the most extroverted folk among us have now realised the importance of escaping to a distraction-free space every now and again – particularly if our homes no longer fulfil this function.