For many white-collar workers around the world, the recent widespread disease has meant having to work from home. Their usual office location has been locked. This means different practices, which have advantages and disadvantages for employees. But the big question is, will they ever see their offices again?
Home working has made people realize what tasks they can perform at home, rather than going regularly to the office to do the same thing. It has given them more time with the family; they've been sleeping better and have saved money by not travelling or buying lunches on the go. And recent evidence suggests the majority of people working from home do as well and achieve as much as before.
For some people, this could be a lasting arrangement. In the UK, fifty of the biggest employers questioned by the BBC, have said they have no plans to return all staff to the office full-time in the near future. Of course, one main reason is that firms couldn't see a way of accommodating large numbers of staff while social distancing rules were still in place. But the BBC also heard that some smaller businesses are deciding to abandon their offices completely.
Other bigger companies are also looking at winding up offices to save money as many jobs can be performed remotely. Peter Cheese, head of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, told the RBC: "We are at a moment of real change in the world of work, driven by big existing risks."
But this isn't great news for everyone. Some employees can feel lonely at home, and there's less opportunity to network or team from other people, especially if they're a new worker. Also, city centers may suffer most from a change in working habits. Shops and cafes rely on the footfall of office workers, and without them, they face closure. The future is still uncertain, which is why it may be too early to say where our desks will be permanently located. But the office of the future may be your home.
