Page 74 - FDI Alliance International Magazine. Spring 2021 Digital Interactive Issue

As communities around the world deploy pajamas and going to a physical workspace changes. First, role of a physical workplace
COVID vaccines and gradually loosen that wasn’t your living room. Likewise, it’s will change. There has been no better time
restrictions, there appears to be a light at a longstanding standard that productivity than now to revisit office real estate. An in-
the end of this seemingly endless tunnel. In and collaboration are aligned with “going person workspace will always have value,
the past year, nearly every aspect of normalcy to work”. However, as we continue through and to ensure cost-effectiveness, it may be
has been tumultuously altered. New, unusual the largest work-from-home experiment beneficial to have physical space for in-person
responsibilities have become part of our in existence, that previous notion appears collaboration, team-building activities, and
everyday lives: social distancing, remembering too no longer be valid. A recent survey by meetings, but with an increase in remote
to have a mask on hand at all times, Zoom management consultants at McKinsey & workers, also maintain coworking spaces that
Meetings, and stockpiling enough hand Co. reported that 80% of people enjoyed are flexible. Tech companies such as Facebook
sanitizer to disinfect an elementary school. WFH and 41% feel more productive than have started this transition by enabling WFH
Needless to say, this is just the surface of before, compared to 28% of people who and having salaries reflect the local cost of
what our “new normal” is. As a result of the said they feel as productive as before. This living for their distanced employees. Second,
rapid roll out of COVID-mitigation efforts, speaks directly to the time-management of the fight over a qualified workforce will see a
businesses of all sizes and sectors had to employees. Without the time considerations shift in what employees prioritize. Now that
adjust to a new idea of the image of work that that activities of every size, these time savings more people are working remotely, people
many, if not most, were neither prepared nor have resulted in employees focusing on more are enjoying flexible routines that create
equipped to address. While the pandemic has valuable work and managing their time more an improved work-life balance. As younger
resulted in many businesses losing revenue, effectively. The cost-effectiveness of the remote jobseekers enter the “real world”, it’s likely
downsizing, or shutting down altogether, there model for employers is also becoming more those employees will put a high emphasis
has been a significant impact on what the apparent. Companies and businesses are on positions that have a WFH option and
future of work will look like post-COVID in moving faster, dedicating resources more flexibility. Likewise, employers will have to
a work-from-home (WFH) world. effectively, and leveraging technology in a prioritize that company culture will continue
more efficient manner. to thrive digitally. With a large percentage of
Prior to 2020, when someone would say he companies instituting a WFH environment
or she was “going to work”, it’d be safe to There are certain truths that organizations will and having employees scattered across
assume that entailed changing out of your need to accept in order to accommodate these cities, states, or time zones, it’s critical that

74. FDI ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL