Over the past two years, the way we all think about office work has changed significantly. Being a white-collar worker is no longer seen as the kind of position that involves spending all day at the office, staring at a computer screen. Thanks to the popularisation of remote, hybrid and flexible work models, many of today’s office employees are being given much more freedom.
The expectations of employees have changed
Two years ago, it was almost impossible to imagine that many bustling offices, even the largest ones, could operate with no employees on site. Today, we are constantly hearing about both local companies and huge international businesses that have given up their traditional, brick-and-mortar offices or at least reduced the size of their premises.
Many employees have quickly got accustomed to this new office organisation model, and they usually expect to benefit from one when taking up a new job. As working from distant cities, regions and even countries no longer surprises anyone, the boundaries that in the past limited their employability no longer exist. Employees are well aware of this and are much more likely to seek remote employment in companies located far from their homes, even abroad.
Remote work is no longer a perk
In today’s world, remote work is no longer an incentive but a necessity. Dynamically changing policies, restrictions and lockdowns, which affect a great number of countries across the globe, make entrepreneurs feel insecure about the future of their companies. Shifting to remote work ensures uninterrupted functioning of the office regardless of the current events.
However, not all companies can work entirely online. Additionally, many employees are unable to work remotely, e.g. they have small children who spend all their days at home. Employers should keep that in mind while changing their work organisation models and do their best to support the staff in these difficult times. Introducing a flexible work model, where employees can choose whether they want to work onsite or from home, is a sensible option.
The significance of new technologies is increasing
Shifting to remote or flexible work wouldn’t be possible without new technologies, which are currently developing at a breakneck pace. App developers are coming up with a myriad of wonderful and creative ideas on how to boost the efficiency of offices during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regardless of their size, location and industry, all companies need applications that foster communication among employees and link people together. This can be achieved through various networking, chatting and conference apps, which are now present in almost all companies. In a world where video conferencing replaces classic face-to-face meetings and chatting becomes more popular than talking, we need constant access to responsive and stable software that offers a variety of functions.
No less important is the organisation of the physical office. Employees who can’t work from home should be given the possibility of using the office on a regular basis. However, it must be remembered that in order to provide your staff with healthy working conditions, you should always track their attendance at work, as it is the only way to warn your employees about being potentially infected by their colleagues who have tested positive. A desk booking app such as Deski, which combines effortless desk booking via the desk reservation system accessed from any web browser and easy attendance list storage, is surely worth considering.
Choose a desk-booking app with a simple, yet powerful interface. We can help you find an optimal configuration for your office. Booking a desk should be nothing but a single click! Get familiar with Deski – a desktop and mobile web app with real-time reservations. Set your own reservation rules and separate office space – it’s all up to you! If you have any questions about our hot-desking solution, let us know!