The Economist rightly concludes that the future of the office is uncertain. Covid-19 has made working from home acceptable and for many jobs the preferred choice. But now that lockdowns are being lifted, opinions on the future of offices differ widely. While Twitter en Pinterest prefer their employees to work from home, Netflix and Bloomberg (even pays for it) want people to return to their offices asap. And while 84% of the French commute to their office again, only 40% of the British do right now.
A few questions are key when it concerns the future. The pandemic has made it clear that the way many offices function is highly outmoded and does not benefit from digital technologies that improve and facilitate white-collar work. For sure it will change, but how and what are the consequences of different office scenarios? More people working from home will lower demand for office space and commuting time, these are no brainers. But what does it mean for the way organisations will function in the future? What kind of new organisational models and cultures will emerge and perform best? And what does it mean for city centres, housing requirements, catering, and even the dating industry? It is now time to start thinking through the most disruptive scenarios!
Read more on the Economist - Is the office finished?
Photo by Standsome Worklifestyle on Unsplash