Projecting the future of office life

Clunky video call meetings and kitchen table offices have become the norm as we commit to working from home during the global pandemic. So, as restrictions are gradually lifted, what might the future look like for office workers? Here we speculate on some of the changes which could be afoot.

Greater flexibility

Tech companies, trendy marketing agencies and the likes have been practicing flexible working for years now. But forced closure has meant we have all ditched the rulebook for the 9 to 5 office work life. As each of us juggle working around the kids, our spouses or fellow employees, working hours too have changed. (Hence that 10pm email from your colleague.) The adoption of remote working is looking set to stay for many of us, but could it be that greater flexibility around working hours is too?

Staggered work times

Staggered worktimes can create hurdles when it comes to smooth working, impromptu meetings and communications. But it could be a challenge we are just going to have to overcome. As companies look to return employees to the office while still obeying social distancing, staggered shift patterns could become the norm.

Staggered work times may be by hours - with certain teams entitled to the office space in the morning and others in the afternoon. They could also be staggered by days - with some staff in the office Monday, Wednesday, Friday, say. This could be a reality for many companies trying to return to some level of office normality, and of course, a key benefit being employees are given a much-needed change of scene for working, potentially increasing morale.

Investing in cyber security

The sudden beginning to lockdown shook many companies when it came to the logistics of ensuring staff had the hardware and software needed to carry out their job