10 Trends Driving the Post-Pandemic Workplace

Things certainly are a bit different from two years ago, and that most definitely includes work. For many organisations, their entire workplace has gone, replaced by remote or hybrid working. Gone are lunch runs and popping over to a cubicle for an update or a gossip; you’re far more likely to be in your kitchen most of the day (clothing optional) and chatting to your teammates on Slack or Teams.

We want to help you make the most of that back-to-work excitement by giving you insights into the post-pandemic workplace. This article is about the top ten trends we’re seeing post-pandemic (in case you didn’t catch the title) and how organisations can get ahead of them, so let’s get started!

1) Hybrid working is the new normal

Working full time in an office probably seems alien to most people these days. That’s because hybrid working has been fully embraced, with over 40% of British workers planning to work from home with the occasional office work thrown in. If you’re an organisation that’s demanding your workforce to come back to the office full time, you can say goodbye to a lot of top talent. You simply have to offer a hybrid working arrangement to stay competitive.

2) The office is driving creativity and collaboration

When you think about it, the office used to be a place where people came in, sat at their desks, did their work, then went home. Well, now people want to skip the commute and just work from home. That doesn’t mean the office doesn’t have a place; 85% of employees currently working from home want a ‘hybrid’ approach of both home and office working in future. The office must now become a place for collaboration and creativity if it’s to continue to exist. After all, nothing beats in-person teamwork.

3) The digital age is here and businesses must adapt

You simply can’t be in business today if you’re not online. The digitalisation process is complete and organisations are taking full advantage. It’s not just Zoom and instant messaging apps; it’s AI, blockchain, and all the fancy cloud software that businesses are investing in. And invest they must, as data gathering and automation are the big ways to save resources and exploit untapped potential. You simply must look into the latest software in order to remain competitive. 

4) Health and wellbeing are critical to employee happiness

It’s really no surprise that the pandemic has us thinking about our health a bit more. In fact, you wouldn’t be wrong to say it’s the biggest driving force behind all the change we’re seeing today. Employees are taking their physical and mental health seriously, and so must businesses if they want to keep them. Watch out for burnout! Make health a part of the conversation, and show recognition to your staff. Not only will this increase morale and productivity, but better mental health support in the workplace can save UK businesses up to £8 billion per year.

5) Embrace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The pandemic really illustrated the division between different groups: race, sex, and age to name a few. Organisations must now really make sure that they’re committed to DEI initiatives, and really monitor how they’re being represented. They must provide inclusive leadership from the top and be proactive in correcting flexible working rules that result in accidental prejudice.For example, women are far more likely to be on child care duty, and giving them the option to come in later to drop the kids off before work, or leave earlier to pick them up, is a thoughtful action that pays dividends.

6) Increased cyber security will keep data safe and costs down

We’ve all experienced annoying scams and phishing attempts (don’t click that link!), but since the pandemic we’re seeing a tidal wave of new cyber attacks. More than 80% of UK organisations experienced a successful attack in 2021 and 2022. With so much more of the workforce now working from home businesses must take all precautions to safeguard their data through better and up-to-date software as well as training for staff. Training them on basic cyber safety, communicating in secure and company-approved software, and making sure that all software is up-to-date is the way forward. Talk to your IT team, and if you don’t have one, it’s time to make that investment!

7) New managing models

The image of a manager calling people into their office or springing up behind an unwitting employee like a vampire in a horror film is a thing of the past (thankfully!). Managers have had to adapt to managing a whole team virtually, and this has required a new set of skills and tools. They’ll have to become adept at communication software such as Sling, G Suite, and Trello to conduct and optimise workflows. They’ll have to prioritise clear communication, and send important messages through the same channels to avoid overload or confusion. Instead of micro managing and monitoring their hybrid staff, they must now focus on collaborating with and coaching employees to make them more self-sufficient, adopting a more macro management style.

8) ESG and climate change

Three-quarters of British adults worry about climate change, and these concerns have leaked into businesses. People aren’t as enthusiastic about working for a company that isn’t doing its part for the planet, so it’s time to take ESG seriously and start looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Look for ways to reduce waste at work, or sponsor green initiatives to give employees a sense of well-being and that they’re contributing to the greater good.

9) Culture is more important than ever

It used to be that a fat paycheck was what really motivated people, but not any more. A company’s culture is far more important. Really think about what people experience when they first come into your office, and what your company stands for. After all, people now have the luxury of working from anywhere, for anyone, so why would they pick your company? Is it caring, thoughtful, future facing, or just plain fun? Do you offer a better work/life balance and flexible hours? Are you involved with the local community, or global initiatives? Give future employees a reason to pick your organisation over a competitor that isn’t just a better wage.

10) In-person is more important than ever

It used to be that people rolled their eyes when the dreaded phrase “team building exercise” was uttered, but now we’re genuinely excited to experience those physical interactions we get so much less of post-pandemic. Even though people do like working from home, Zoom is no substitute for actually being together in a room. Luckily, Big Smoke Events has a ton of great ideas on how to welcome employees back to the office, and since summer is coming up, why not host a fantastic team summer party?