With the pandemic postponing work environments from opening, teams are getting used to working from home. While teams that were already homeshored had the least disruption, other jobs had to be quickly configured to work remotely.
As people get used to working from home, it begs the question, what is the re-imagined workplace after COVID-19?
Flexible Spaces
According to a SHRM Report, 67 percent of employers are taking steps to allow employees to work from home who don’t normally do so. And, many leaders are asking if there is a good reason to even return to the traditional office. As companies re-imagine their workplace, they are evaluating the pros and cons of homeshored teams as a permanent alternative to the workplace.
The trickiest aspect of homeshoring or the virtual workplace is how companies will engage with their teams, prospects and clients. While the virtual meeting eliminates the commute, working from home doesn’t always work efficiently, particularly in remote areas with internet connectivity issues.
As an alternative to homeshoring, leaders are considering coworking spaces as a viable and flexible option as they continue to navigate the pandemic. CoWorking allows a company to expand and constrict their workforce and avoid the costly overhead expenses from traditional office settings.
My Business Innovation Lab Coworking and Conference Center has received calls from companies of all sizes looking to take advantage of Private Offices, Dedicated Desks and onsite conference facilities for their sales professionals so that they can connect with their prospects and clients. Corporate employees have also negotiated the coworking membership into their salary packages.
Since we offer high-speed wifi for our Members and an onsite Java and Chai Lounge for beverages, it gives them a plug-and-go option to conduct business. The onsite conference room also allows their teams to gather when needed.
Preferences Are Changing
While many companies had disaster recovery plans in place for events like earthquakes, fires, or tornados, few anticipated the full disruption of COVID-19. While it’s unclear how the workplace will shift once the pandemic is over, you might want to ask: is your company ready to handle the expectations from employees (or candidates) who prefer to work in a virtual workplace?
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