by Sharon Jones
The way that businesses work has changed hugely over the past year and a half. But as things slowly start to return to some level of normal, what can be expected for our businesses? There will be some employees that would prefer to carry on working from home for the majority of the time, as well as other employees that are desperate to get back to the office and work and collaborate closely with others. There will be some changes to come from what was known before, but with some planning and preparations, businesses can be ready for what is to come. Here are some things to think about.

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Reluctant colleagues

There may be some members of the team who are reluctant to go back to how they worked before. They may have thrived with a better work-life balance that working from home has brought, and may even have changed circumstances, such as an elderly family member living with them or a new baby. As a result, it is important to remember that working from home is definitely here to stay. Employees have shown that they still get their work done and do a good job when working from home. So as a result, expecting them back in the office five days a week could be too much. Think about flexibility in returning to the office, and you’ll be able to hang onto those valuable colleagues. 

Corporate events

In the corporate world, there are often a number of events and conferences that people are invited to attend. Many events, when people are double-vaxxed, are likely to get back to normal, as businesses want to thrive and grow after a tough year. It is important to consider the possibility of hybrid events, especially if your business plans to host events, where people can attend in-person, but they can also tend virtually. This can allow people to avoid excessive travel and flexibility, but still ensure they get the same information and experience as the people attending in-person.

New ideas and strategies

There will be some businesses who have had to rethink what they do as a result of the pandemic. For example, restaurants have had to switch to takeaways and deliveries, when they might not have done that before. If this has gone well, there is no reason why this can’t carry on, alongside the in-person dining, as time goes on. A tutor or music teacher may have gone to teaching online classes for some of the time, but they could carry on with some in-person classes, as well as online classes. Just because these things were done as a way to adapt, doesn’t mean that they can’t carry on, even if things are returning to some kind of normal. Look at what your business has done to adapt and it can make a big difference.

The business world does look different, but no matter the size of your business or the kind of business you have, you can find ways for it to thrive and survive during these times.