What does the future workplace look like?

The pandemic has transformed the traditional workplace organization. Remote work options have exploded during the pandemic, and we can safely say that many are here to stay.

It makes no doubt that companies will need to adapt and adjust before figuring out what the right post-pandemic workplace should look like. 

Yet, as technology develops and mindsets change, it is fair to say that the workplace as we know it is in the process of changing.

Change is not always a bad thing, and perhaps some of the transformations in a post-pandemic world can improve the workplace environment. 

More eclectic teams and more international

Remote work is growing in popularity. Even though many companies have tried to bring their teams back to the office, many employees find they do not want to work in a traditional office environment anymore. 

More forward, it is likely that remote work options will continue to expand, both nationally and internationally. When it comes to approaching new markets or finding a specific skill set, international remote teams can be a game-changer for businesses.

International employees bring a significant cultural asset, helping a business understand a broader audience group. However, building an international remote team is no easy task as cultural clashes, time zone differences, and different work regulations can affect the day-to-day routine.

Nevertheless, providing employees with the resources and updates they need to grow and prioritizing healthy team-building activities can bring your global team to the next level. 

Virtual desk

Remote teams need a virtual platform to communicate and collaborate. Platforms such as Microsoft Teams or Slack have proven effective in managing complex tasks even before the pandemic.

Zoom meetings and other similar video call technologies have grown in popularity during the pandemic. Yet, scroll forward two years, and people are experiencing Zoom fatigue.

Seeing their faces on screen in non-professional lighting all day long has driven a surge in cosmetic surgeries for individuals who feel self-conscious. 

So, solutions such as the virtual reality workplace suggested by Meta could transform employees’ routines and improve their well-being. Indeed, employees could use a VR headset to access the work platform rather than interacting with their coworkers on screen.

Additionally, employees could also utilize VR technology to create an avatar that will represent them in meetings and other communication settings. As a result, self-conscious individuals are less likely to struggle with their appearance in poor lighting and conditions.

The idea is not entirely new, as it’s been explored previously through many futuristic video games and sci-fi movies. So, who knows? There might be a future ahead where you can send your avatar to a meeting!

Change in desk equipment

Following the Meta suggestion to use VR sets for work, the business world is considering how the typical desk equipment can benefit from new technology to improve.

Indeed, the typical desk setting that we are familiar with from home and work offices can be a source of many health problems. 

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, individuals who frequently work on a computer are more at risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve is pinched at the wrist, causing tingling, numbing, and pain through the thumb, index, middle, and half of the ring fingers.

Risks are also elevated for individuals with obesity, arthritis, and menopause. But the work position with a keyboard and a mouse can significantly contribute to pain and discomfort. 

Switching to VR or AR technology can help transform the desk setting and eliminate mouse and keyboard use. Reducing pressure on the wrist could eliminate health risks.

Additionally, other issues such as screen neck, which occurs when the person looks down on their screen when the desk height is not adequate, could also become a thing of the past if the employees of tomorrow wear a VR set to work. 

Are VR headsets a 100% improvement? The answer is: It depends. If you have used VR sets in video games, you may have experienced discomforts such as motion sickness, eye strain and soreness, and excessive sweating where the set sits.

If these issues are not corrected through innovative designs, it is unlikely that future headsets will fully replace the traditional desk setting. 

New wage payments

How do you typically receive your wages? Most American employees tend to be paid via bank transfer. However, some industries still use paychecks or even cash.

But in a world where digital technologies lead the way, it makes sense to expect more digital wages, such as cryptocurrency and Paypal. Employees in the future could even consider crypto trading as part of their wage distribution.

Businesses could even establish partnerships with reputable trading platforms such as eToro — you can check out Forbes’ review of eToro if you are not familiar with the platform — to encourage employees to invest safely and grow their income.

Ultimately, cryptocurrency is about the become mainstream, so we could expect partial or full crypto wages in the future. 

Digitally-focused communication

One of the most important lessons businesses have learned during the pandemic is that traditional communication methods are no longer effective in a remote work environment.

Zoom calls have enabled employees to stay in touch and organized meetings. However, after a long period spent working from home, employees are unanimous: They suffer from meeting fatigue.

Too many Zoom calls in an effort to maintain social connections cost time and efficiency. Consequently, teams have slowly improved their communication practices, using chat instead of calls for simple queries. 

Additionally, the development of international remote teams that may not share the same language or culture calls for universal communication tips.

Emojis and gifs are growing popular in team chats for many reasons:

• They are universally understandable
• They add emotional cues to the text
• They help create a bond through famous gifs or fun emojis
• They improve communication despite talking with non-native speakers

Normalizing the use of visuals as part of business communication can prevent confusion, frustration, and misunderstanding in a remote team, whether you are working with native or non-native speakers. 

Technology is without a doubt one of the most crucial factors of success in the workplace of the future.

Effective use of innovative tech can not only bring teams together but also enable businesses to build strong teambuilding, productive work processes, and smarter income distribution systems.  

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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