by Ben Gunther

The future of work has been sped up. We’ve made so much digital and technological progress as a result of the pandemic, which means that the future looks a bit different than we thought it would at the beginning of the year. Learn more about the future of work post-COVID in this post.

When Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said, “We have seen two years’ worth of digital transformation in two months,” around May of this year, he was entirely correct. 

Things that people had in their mind as “the future of work” for ten years from now are suddenly the norm right now in 2020. COVID-19 has truly changed how the entire world functions in just a few months’ time.

So what does the future of work look like post-COVID? As the world starts to cautiously re-open, what will employers do to keep employees & consumers safe, employed, and healthy?

Here are our predictions on some of the key aspects of the future of work around the world.

Change to the Traditional Office

The past few years have seen a rise in co-working spaces, shared office spaces, and, of course, the digital nomad jumping from coffee shop to coffee shop.

Now, though, these types of workspaces are considered high-risk for the spread of disease, making them risky for small and large businesses alike.

We predict a shift back to the private office space model. This can, and likely will, change to accommodate entrepreneurs, small business teams, and remote workers to offer private offices in shared buildings.

Remote work has increased dramatically throughout the pandemic (more on that later), which we believe will spur the increase in the use of virtual office space. 

Virtual offices give people the amenities and office necessities they need without the physical location or having to even go into an office. Everything you need to work will be digital and handled by the virtual office company.

Remote Work Is Here to Stay

As nonessential workers moved to work from home or work remotely, they joined some of the millions of others already making a living from home or at least taking remote workdays a few days per week. It’s estimated that ~50 percent of workers are working from home during this crisis.

Now that businesses and companies know that remote work is not only possible for them, but also efficient, productive, and even help them save money!

Deloitte found that pre-COVID, 25 percent of workers worked from home at least once per week. They estimate that post-COVID, the future of work will have over 34 percent of people working from home once per week, with many others staying completely remote.

Even More Emphasis on Work Perks

Millennials have already pushed companies and employers to start offering better work perks and offerings to entice them into positions in certain companies. 

As we move to the future of work post-COVID, we expect to see even more of these perks with an emphasis on healthcare, sick days, hazard pay, childcare, and, of course, working remotely if necessary.

We also expect most companies to offer varied work schedules and types depending on each employee’s preferences. Hybrid work weeks will likely be a top tier work perk (work from home some days, in the office on others) along with stipends for remote workers and other remote work perks.

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About the Autor: Ben is an owner of a virtual office space and office space rental company called The Business District. He has years of business experience that’s he’s used to grow his latest venture!