- The Future of Work: How COVID-19 is Reshaping Our Careers and Lives
- HOW WORK IS CHANGING: ADAPTING FOR THE FUTURE
- Adapting to the New Work Dynamics Post-COVID-19
- Adapting to the Post-COVID World: Challenges for Companies
- Challenge 1: Collaborating Remotely
- Challenge 2: Onboarding New Employees
- Challenge 3: Managing Uncertainty
- BrainApps: Enhancing Career and Soft Skills Development
- The Impact of Job Loss on Low-Wage Workers
- The Need for Support and Recovery
- Remote Work: The Future of Workforce
The Future of Work: How COVID-19 is Reshaping Our Careers and Lives
Work has always been an important part of our lives, but the COVID-19 pandemic has taken it to a whole new level. A significant portion of the workforce shifted to Remote work overnight, and while life changed rapidly in 2020, the future of work is still uncertain.
Predicting what the “new normal” will look like is a challenge. With vaccinations and new variants emerging, going back to work is even more complicated than it was two years ago. We can’t just reopen offices and pretend that everything is the same, especially since the pandemic has changed the way we work.
According to productivity experts, it takes 21 days to start a new habit, which means that after two years of remote work, many people have developed new routines and expectations. They may have moved to different locations, started new careers, or expanded their families. Returning to the office as if nothing happened is not viable.
COVID-19 has brought about a new Industrial Revolution that has already made its mark on the future of work. Rather than trying to recreate the past, we must embrace the changes that have taken place. Work is unlikely to return to its pre-pandemic state, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. We can use this opportunity to create a better, more flexible, and more sustainable work environment that fits our needs and expectations.
HOW WORK IS CHANGING: ADAPTING FOR THE FUTURE
When we talk about the future of work, we’re discussing how we’re evolving our approaches to work in light of economic, social, and global changes. However, these changes usually happen slowly and steadily. That being said, there are certain times where a momentous event highly impacts life and forces a great change. In the past, the greatest catalyst for change in the workforce was Henry Ford’s assembly line, which revolutionized work for people worldwide. By paying workers a higher wage while reducing the work week from 72 to 40 hours, productivity and employee retention grew as well. While a 40-hour work week is now customary in many sectors around the world, it has only been around for about a century.
In recent times, we have had to bid farewell to customary professional practices such as offices, business travels, and even pants with belt loops. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated a shift towards a new kind of work dynamic. This new way of working has the potential to help with balancing work-life, increasing productivity, and reducing our impact on the environment.
Adapting to the New Work Dynamics Post-COVID-19
COVID-19 brought about a dramatic shift in the way we work. The pandemic forced businesses to resort to alternatives to in-person gatherings to ensure continuity in their operations. The workforce was categorized into essential and non-essential, with some employees working remotely while others had to report to their jobs to keep essential services available to the public. However, some workers were stuck in-between; they had careers that relied heavily on in-person interactions but couldn’t work remotely. Sectors such as acting, food service, and fitness instruction were all hit hard.
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Companies also found themselves split along similar lines. Those that had already adapted to remote working were not significantly affected by the pandemic; they did not have to deal with the logistical hurdles of transitioning from in-person to remote work. Others had to resort to finding new ways to provide their services, something that often meant cutting costs by laying off employees. A final group is still waiting for business as usual to return.
Unfortunately, what some businesses were able to weather, employees were not. The pandemic’s prolonged economic impact led to a Great Resignation, where many people were forced to switch careers or move to cheaper areas. As the pandemic stretched into its second year, unemployment reached an all-time high, and desperation set in, resulting in individuals seeking alternative ways to make ends meet. This event is one of many factors that triggered a change in the job market, with companies now struggling to entice employees back to their pre-pandemic lifestyles.
Adapting to the Post-COVID World: Challenges for Companies
Challenge 1: Collaborating Remotely
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many workplaces believed that remote work would hinder employees’ ability to collaborate effectively. While some individuals missed face-to-face interactions and spontaneous conversations, numerous employees have realized that they can be just as productive, if not more so, while working from home.
Challenge 2: Onboarding New Employees
Starting a new job usually involves meeting co-workers and building relationships through interactive onboarding. However, as companies shift their workforces across different regions and time zones, it has become increasingly difficult for new hires to connect with their co-workers and feel a sense of belonging, especially for younger workers entering the job market for the first time.
Challenge 3: Managing Uncertainty
Industries hit hard by the pandemic, such as hospitality and foodservice, have pushed many individuals to switch to new careers for greater stability. As a result, companies are struggling to entice them back with job security. Meanwhile, sectors such as healthcare and technology, which are resistant to automation or suited for hybrid work, are thriving and offering attractive incentives to attract workers.
Businesses in lower-wage industries are implementing temporary measures such as higher wages and improved benefits to compete. However, without sustained industry growth, these initiatives may not be viable in the long run.
BrainApps: Enhancing Career and Soft Skills Development
In response to these challenges, BrainApps has launched a personalized app that empowers individuals to develop their soft skills and advance their careers. By utilizing BrainApps, learners can enhance remote collaboration skills, adapt to new environments and collaborate remotely with ease, engage in interactive onboarding experiences, build resilience to manage uncertainty, and adapt to meet the ever-changing job market demands. BrainApps is the ultimate solution for those seeking a competitive edge in today’s fast-paced job market.
The Impact of Job Loss on Low-Wage Workers
The COVID-19 pandemic hit hard, especially for low-wage workers, who experienced the most significant job loss. Many businesses had no choice but to outsource or automate some roles to offset pandemic-related losses. While some employees in low-wage jobs can shift to other labor markets, they will mostly require new training, education, and skills to transition to accelerated growing industries after COVID.
McKinsey estimates that up to 25% more employees will have to move into higher wage roles and seek new careers, compared to only 6% before the pandemic. However, it’s not merely about earning more money. After going through the pandemic’s emotional and financial toll, people may not be in the right mindset to transition to more lucrative roles. Reinventing one’s career, either by interviewing for a more rewarding job or starting a business, requires energy, effort, and confidence, traits that many people currently lack.
The Need for Support and Recovery
The workforce needs support to recover from the pandemic’s effects, as we try to process this collective trauma. There’s no denying that the job market has changed, and a significant shift is needed to keep pace. However, it’s essential to realize that the changes go beyond roles, wages, and job functions. Therefore, it’s time to support employees and help them recover, rebuild their confidence, and regain control of their career.
Remote Work: The Future of Workforce
The increasing trend of remote work is here to stay, and it has been made evident by the Great Resignation. Companies like MindApps have already adopted a remote workforce successfully even before the pandemic. Even after the pandemic, the benefits of remote work will continue to spread and grow across industries.
However, irrespective of the mode of work, whether it’s in-person or remote, interpersonal relationships and collaboration will always be crucial in the workforce. As per an article written by Jane Kotter for Forbes, we now have an opportunity to initiate a personalized approach in the professional world—one that serves employees and clients alike.
Our efforts should not be to revert to how things used to be but welcome the change and create a new normal, as the year 2020 has repeatedly demonstrated. The future lies in understanding and accepting a dynamic and personalized workplace where individuals can thrive, find purpose, and maintain work-life harmony.
