The Evolution of Work During COVID-19

The Covid-19 pandemic has evidently disrupted the way we work and how businesses operate. Despite massive vaccinations, we are now facing the Delta variant which poses the possibility of Covid-19 persisting beyond expected. To cope with the restrictions, work has been redefined many times – from complete work-from-home set-ups to hybrid set-ups, increased dependencies on apps to embracing virtual meetings. Even critical skill sets have shifted, giving more importance to multi-tasking and project management.

With the uncertainties of when the pandemic will actually end, here are some work shift patterns that may still carry on even as we get closer to the end of the tunnel.

Cross Function Project Teams

Most companies have downsized and employees find themselves absorbing additional tasks and projects, creating opportunities to work as cross-function project teams. This brings benefits on streamlining processes, creating the right talent mix and promoting synergy. Proving to be an effective tool to streamline work, this may even expand as a norm.

Skills in Delivering Omni-Channel Services

Consumers have realized the value of online shopping and services. With the pandemic extending, consumers who initially had apprehensions in online shopping were forced into the habit. Delivering excellent customer service through omnichannel services require a different skill set from traditional ways of merchandizing, inventory management, marketing, sales and delivery. It requires an expanded end to end value chain and customer service, giving rise to third party delivery service providers. In highly technological countries, it may give rise to a different industry all together – AI logistics.

Virtual Meetings and Project Coordination

Working remotely made us manage team meetings better. Project coordination through well-planned and strictly-timed virtual meetings may persist for good reasons. This may give rise to a different approach to team building – one that is role and task oriented above one that is built on relationship and camaraderie.

Pursuit of Work-Life Balance

The norm has shifted to having both a career and nurturing one’s personal as simply the way to move forward. Once we overcome the pandemic, we will see more workers carving out a lifestyle wherein they could pursue a balance of what they consider to be meaningful in their lives. This may already be seen with the rise of free-lancers or part time professional workers.

Continuous Learning and Resilience

Having experienced the shock of losing one’s job or being transitioned out due to rapidly evolving skill requirements, more people took online courses to update their skill sets. The rise of continuous learning will carry on with workers now see having the ability to adapt is critical to attain resilience in the workforce for the long-term. This means a greater demand for online gurus – of course, while this brings opportunities, it also brings other governance issues such as accountability and validity of credentials in the subject matter expertise being shared.