The future is uncertain and unexpected global events can occur at any time, disrupting the way we work. Since the beginning of the year, the COVID-19 pandemic has escalated exponentially, shining light on how vulnerable businesses can be when faced with unprecedented challenges.
Navigating the pandemic saw businesses adapt to the rapid acceleration of remote work and digital technology. And it only took a few months for the pandemic to completely change the world as we know it.
Organisations that initially looked at these temporary solutions are now looking at implementing these as permanent components in their companies. As we begin to imagine life post COVID-19, let’s look at some of the trends massively driven by it that are here to stay and what to anticipate going forward.
Now that lockdowns have somewhat eased and people can return to the office part-time or in shifts, how can organisations adapt to accommodate workers while securing their safety? One of the fastest solutions to supporting employees and keeping a business running is incorporating the use of flexible workspaces in a Business Continuity Plan.
Rethinking the traditional workspace to adequately safeguard against the COVID-19 pandemic, the idea of a single large company is likely to change. This can be demonstrated by organisations setting up satellite offices that are best served by coworking spaces, business centers, and serviced offices.
Your office may be affected, but with Colony, your business may not. We offer fully furnished offices that are ready and fuss-free so you can get on with business-as-usual. From hotdesking to meeting rooms and luxe suites across have five award-winning locations across Klang Valley’s most prestigious addresses, including Colony @ KL Sentral, Colony @ Eco City and Colony @ Mutiara Damansara.
At Colony, we have an extensive range of flexible workspace solutions that allow companies to be agile, flexible, and ready anytime, anywhere.
According to Gartner, 41% of employees will likely work remotely at least part of the time after the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to 30% pre-pandemic. Besides, 74% of CFOs also intend to increase remote work at their organization after the outbreak.
Though working from home comes with its own set of challenges, the reality is that most employees have enjoyed having flexibility in their schedules. As organisations look at shifting their operations remotely, they will also need to explore more ways employees can collaborate digitally.
As we shift towards the new world of work, virtual meetings have become more popular than ever. Similarly, with remote work, expect virtual meetings to become the new normal. While all communication shouldn’t be replaced by virtual meetings, organisations need to rethink their meetings policies, strategies and determine which meetings truly require video and which ones can instead be substituted by other forms of communication such as phone calls, instant messaging or emails as these may likely be faster and more efficient.
However, when it comes to building rapport between teams, you can consider trying out digital team-building activities like virtual lunches!
In this age of connectivity, the advent of the internet, smart mobile devices and instant messaging has increasingly blurred the line between work and life. Despite building an agile workforce, it also puts employees’ work-life balance awry as work tends to spill over personal activities and priorities get juggled to meet pressing demands.
With more people working from home than ever, keeping the line in place should be a key priority for organisations to prevent burnout at work. This can then help with their employee’s overall well-being, performance, and happiness with their jobs.
Life will never be the same again post COVID-19. We don’t know how long this crisis will last or the global impact and ramifications, but what we do know is that organisations need to keep looking ahead – recognise the challenges, harness the opportunities that come by, and turn your attention to the future.
If your workplace is facing a crisis now, our experienced advisers are ready to help you find a solution today with our customisable Business Continuity Plans that can return your business to scale.
With Colony by your side, you can give your teams the support they need. Visit our website on the ways we can build your optimum business recovery plan with our Coworking Space KL, or reach out to us via email at ask@colony.work or call +60 18-213 8086.
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