4 Post-Pandemic Workplace Trends Your Business May Want To Consider

Post-Pandemic Workplace Trends

There’s no denying the dramatic and widespread impact that Covid-19 has had across all areas of our lives. While our domestic existence may have returned to normal, for the most part, many workplaces are still experiencing repercussions from the pandemic’s onslaught. In fact, Covid-19 has prompted a seismic shift in how our offices function and on the expectations that many employees now have from their workplaces.

As a result, a number of office trends have come to the forefront. For the most part, they have arisen as a result of the pandemic, but in some cases they also represent an underlying issue that was in existence before any of us had ever heard the name ‘Covid-19’.

If you would like to discover more about these increasingly popular trends, and how to implement them in your own workspace, read on.

The Hybrid Working Model

Arguably one of the few positive things to come out of the pandemic was the discovery that remote and hybrid working are not only possible but can also be sustainable and productive long-term.

As a result, while many people have now gone back to work in the office, a substantial number of businesses have opted to maintain a hybrid or even entirely remote working model. In fact, research conducted by the ONS in 2022 revealed that the number of people engaged in hybrid working was on the rise, particularly among higher earners.

Research also indicated that hybrid and remote workers reported an improvement in their work/life balance and overall wellbeing. These positive effects are undoubtedly behind the continuation of this trend into the present day and beyond.

When it comes to your own company, it may not be possible for your business to go entirely remote. However, you may wish to consider offering more flexibility when it comes to hybrid working, if you don’t do so already. Not only will you have a positive impact on your employee morale, but you may even find that your staff become more productive due to their improved work/life balance.

Creating A More Collaborative Space

Another positive influence that Covid-19 has had on our workplaces was the way in which it prompted many of us to think more deeply about the ways in which we work. This includes focusing with new intensity on which settings or activities are most conducive to productivity and employee satisfaction.

As a result of these paradigm shifts, a number of prominent companies have taken significant steps toward creating an enhanced ‘workplace ecosystem’ – including remodelling their entire office to create a more open and collaborative space. For instance, Highland Spring hired Amos Beech to re-work their head office in order to implement more hybrid options and improve sustainability, among other goals.

While it does require some significant upfront investment, you may want to consider reconfiguring your own office space to create a more inspiring and synergetic workplace environment that will boost productivity and employee morale.

Prioritising Workplace Wellbeing

Covid-19 directed a glaring spotlight on the issue of employee wellbeing, and not only in healthcare settings. As a result, while many people no longer fear for their safety like they did in the first months of the pandemic, they still want their health to be more of a priority for employers.

Part of this enhanced focus on wellbeing is perhaps due to the improvement in their mental and physical health that many workers experienced when they were forced to work from home. Unsurprisingly they became reluctant to return to the working practices they were familiar with before Covid, and this has led to increased pressure on employers to create a healthier workplace.

Fortunately, there are a number of techniques you can use in your own business to promote employee wellbeing. These include conducting staff surveys to find out what could be improved; promoting empathetic and supportive attitudes toward mental health in the workplace; offering sessions and seminars on self-care and supporting others; appointing specially trained ‘mental health advocates’ among your staff members to provide additional assistance for anyone who may be struggling.

Another way to ensure the safety and well-being of the employees is to make sure the office space is safe for everyone, including handicapped people. These include all the spaces, even the restrooms. To achieve this, consider using durable and accessible toilet partition materials, such as reinforced grab bars and wide doorways, to accommodate individuals with mobility challenges.

Emphasising Environmental Issues

It’s not just issues directly related to Covid-19 that will remain paramount post-pandemic. Environmental concerns regarding the catastrophic effects of climate change are also very much at the forefront of people’s minds, across various industries and sectors. As a result, both consumers and employees are looking to businesses to lead the way and set a good example when it comes to being more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

This heightened focus on the natural world is being reflected in workplaces across the world, with a sustained drive toward ‘greener’ practices. These include implementing various changes in order to achieve net-zero carbon emissions, cutting down on single-use plastics, and introducing more sustainable habits into the workplace, such as repurposing and recycling.

While dramatic changes may not currently be possible in your own office, smaller alterations can make a positive impact. These can range from introducing sustainable procurement into your workplace policies, to taking part in environmental initiatives such as Earth Hour, and becoming a paperless office.