Remote working to be 'new normal'?

Bob Aoun, Regional Director, Middle East and Africa, Poly, on how the workforce will adjust to the new practices

The Covid-19 pandemic is continuing to significantly impact people around the globe. While some governments are starting to relax lockdown measures, the world of work continues to be impacted for the vast majority of the world's working population.
Governments across the world have given directives on lockdown and social distancing, but work has continued from home wherever it is possible. Businesses have been forced to rapidly adapt established working practices. But while we're seeing lockdowns being eased, no business will be in a position to return to the normal we once knew at any time soon.

Businesses must make sure the workplace is safe for employees, and we are likely to see reluctance in commuting to and working in an office environment while health concerns are front and centre in workers' minds.

But looking beyond the pandemic, this global event could have a lasting impact on the way we all work and could initiate a big cultural movement to a 'new normal'.
Employees have been adjusting to their own 'new normal'. They've experienced the challenges of finding the right space to work and being apart from colleagues. But many have also experienced increased productivity and are enjoying the flexibility and balance than home working brings.
But the current situation is making many people question existing working practices. Before Covid-19, businesses were largely hesitant to fully embrace remote working.

But remote working has been a trend in hiding - and the current pandemic has uncovered its potential.

Covid-19 is proving to be the catalyst for greater adoption of home working, redefining what we used to see as "business as usual". Global organisations including Twitter and Square have already announced that all employees will be allowed to work from home 'forever'.
We're now seeing organisations around the world not only stepping up to temporarily navigate the challenges of the pandemic but consider how this "new normal" can bring a positive change to the way they operate in future.

Work isn't where you are, it's what you do, and with technology innovating at a fast pace, businesses are in a position to enable productive and collaborative working for their employees.
Outcome-based working, supported by human connections and collaboration, are key to making the new normal work.

With the right technology and communication and collaboration tools, location becomes almost irrelevant - the focus is on empowering employees to work effectively and collaboratively.
We've recently seen a considerable increase in the use of cloud collaboration tools, such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom, and how they can work in bringing people, colleagues and businesses together in an instant.

Yet as we move towards a new normal, we need to think more strategically about the experience delivered by these tools if video and remote collaboration are to be the mainstay of our working practices.

That means high-quality video and sound that ensure rich experiences, with noise-cancelling headsets, webcams and all-in-one sound and video systems that make virtual meetings productive and engaging.

The pandemic is forcing businesses and employees to adopt a completely new way of working. And while it's uncertain when employees can return to the office, one thing is certain - Covid-19 has accelerated the need to put remote working strategies on the business agenda and this will shape the new normal for organisations across the globe.
 

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