What does a greater flexibility, better work-life balance and increased productivity have to do with COVID-19? They are just some of the reported benefits introduced into the current working environment with remote work. When COVID first disrupted the work environment, it created a new series of challenges that required unique solutions. Never before had social distancing measures been enforced and so widespread. And never had everything seemingly come to a halt in a matter of days. Remote working surfaced as an effective solution to the challenges created by COVID and is likely to remain as we venture into a new normal. What was once considered as a privilege, has now become a necessity.

Whilst remote work itself is not new, never has it been experienced on such a large global scale. Before the first industrial revolution, working from home was common. Blacksmiths, carpenters and potters all produced and sold goods from their homes. It wasn’t until the first industrial revolution that the traditional office and factory working environments took shape, as workers migrated and commuted into on-site locations. The more traditional eight-hour working day was then later introduced after the second World War.

Now that remote work is reshaping the work environment yet again, it begs the question. What will the post-COVID work environment look like?

For many, working from home has meant an entirely new working experience. One filled with challenges and opportunities for further personal growth and development. Although personal connections have been restricted, and new routines required establishment, productivity increases have been commonly reported amongst many businesses. Despite initial fears and perceptions about remote work being detrimental to productivity levels, the opposite has occurred. Gartner reports state 43% of those surveyed reported greater productivity due to increased flexibility and 30% reported greater productivity as a result of less, or no, time spent commuting. As remote work has removed restrictions around how work was conducted, easing frustrations for some, it’s no surprise that productivity levels were reported to have increased.

However, not everyone has experienced the same increase in productivity levels. Whilst many jobs changed and relocated to remote locations, the ability for everyone to experience the same working conditions in new environments didn’t. Alongside the reported increases in productivity levels from Gartner, 26% of respondents reported a decrease to their productivity levels due to insufficient connectivity levels and technological changes. This highlights the issues concerning the growing digital divide. An issue that has worsened due to COVID. Rapid movements into the remote working environment, exposed the significant problems those living in rural and low-income areas face. In New Zealand, half a million people are without digital access and are stuck on the wrong side of the digital divide.

So, what’s next? As the current COVID lockdown periods end and many eye a return to the pre-COVID working environments, were the past 18 months all for nothing? Not exactly.

The past 18 months have played a significant role in how the work environment will look and operate in the future. As businesses look to re-open, office environments will slowly be restored to their former glory, and resume some of their pre-COVID practices. However, it will never be the same. Instead, a new era of work will emerge. One that combines modern remote working roles with on-site work, known as the hybrid working environment.

Hybrid working environments combine benefits of both remote work and on-site work, by allowing employees to spend their time working from both locations during the week. A trend that has become increasingly popular with employees and been touted as becoming the future of work. Employees are relishing in the increased flexibility and freedom that comes with this new form of work and it’s even influenced the way potential job offers are viewed. Gartner have reported that 59% of workers they surveyed would only consider a new job or position if it allowed them to work from a location of choice. Whilst 64% of respondents were more likely to consider roles that allowed for flexible hours over ones that didn’t. Responses which indicate that many employees have enjoyed the different experiences and benefits that working remotely offered them.

However, there’s another side in determining what the future work environment could look like. Employers have another opinion which see them wanting their employees back into the workplace as soon as possible. In the United States, 72% of managers supervising remote workers would prefer them to be in the office with issues around control being cited as a key reason for desiring this change. Those adopting this mindset seem to do so out of personal preference, as managing teams that are working remotely offers unique challenges that can be difficult to solve. The ability to see how employees are coping with tasks, and whether they need support, is more easily managed on-site and in person.

Whilst these views between employees and employers may differ as work moves into a new post-COVID environment, a one-size-fits-all solution is yet to emerge. Hybrid working environments may work for some businesses, but the traditional office environment may be more beneficial for others. Whatever the future has in store, one thing is for certain. It will never be the same.