What’s the New Normal for Business?

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The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally changed the lives of Americans. Many lost someone to the health crisis. Some live with the long-term effects of the disease. However, even if you escaped the health cost, it’s likely that the way you work has changed significantly. For a peek at how the pandemic will change the business landscape in the long term, read on.

Remote Work Will Continue

If you’ve gotten used to working in your pajamas, fear not. Leadership consultants like Eyal Gutentag, who has been a marketing leader with Uber and the NFL, says remote work is here to stay. There are two factors that are likely to make this change permanent. First, businesses are realizing that their employees are often even more productive at home than they are in an office setting. Even a few years ago this productivity wouldn’t have outweighed the drawbacks of physical distance but with free and convenient teleconferencing options and cloud computing, collaboration has become simple without regard to space. Gutentag also points out that businesses that have been able to remove the cost of a lease, and all the utilities associated with it, from their budget, are seeing the huge positive impact decentralized work can have on their bottom lines.

Hiring Will Adjust

While remote hiring and onboarding have become the norm, there are still adjustments to be made according to Eyal Gutentag millenial manager. He sees the hiring process incorporating new screening requirements because of the large number of applicants seeking work. There may also be extended probationary periods, or employees may think of it as a trial period, to see if the fit is really there. Without meeting someone in person there are physical cues that an interview board may miss, and the employee may have a less comprehensive picture of corporate culture in all-remote work.

The Eight-Hour Work Day Will Fall Away

Gutentag notes that with the move away from the shift work standard to a manufacturing economy, and with the sudden embracing of remote work, more and more companies will rethink the eight-hour workday. It’s no secret that most management doesn’t work only eight hours a day and with the globalization of the economy, it’s not only management that can be needed round the clock. Moving toward a production-focused or project-focused time management will allow employees to increase productivity and focus not on time, but on output.

While this change can mean a difficult time navigating when you’re “at work” and when you’re on home time, practicing time management will mean the work gets done but you’ll also have more time to focus on your family when they need you, not just at the end of a long workday after an hour commute. Gutentag recommends being very specific about what hours are work hours, which can mean setting it down in your calendar each morning as your needs change day by day. It can also help to clearly set your workspace so your family knows when you’re in the office and it’s not okay to disturb you.

Everyone is likely to see significant changes to how they work in a post-pandemic world, but planning, whether you’re business or employee, will be key to finding success.