Trends that will play a significant role to influence "Work from home" in 2021

The lines between work and personal life are continuing to blur by the day. So, offices aren’t the only space where employees get their work done. In today’s digital world, people are creating remote workplaces that connect them, while anchoring the brand. Thanks to the ongoing pandemic, many organisations have set the trend of introducing work from home policies on a long term basis. Currently, we are seeing a digital transformation of the workplace, in terms of the way we are communicating and collaborating with team members globally.

Businesses are now looking forward to accepting and working in the ‘New Normal’. Companies are allowing new employees to work remotely by shipping assets and using technology-enabled collaboration and productivity tools.

Most of us can't wait to bid adieu to 2020. Yet, the pandemic has changed the ways businesses adjusted to survive. It changed the route of what 2021 will look like and what organisations should do to get ready for the upcoming year.

1. More advanced productivity tools

Teams who had never worked remotely are finding new pain points and needs with the software they’re currently using. In the year 2021, expect to see new tools that take unique approaches to meet a range of organizational needs. These include file sharing, remote onboarding and learning management, and client management. Existing tools will continue to provide more seamless integration with each other, offering a better experience for their user’s across multiple platforms.

2. Work from home reimbursements

Employees are expecting remote work to be long-term—and your business should be prepared, too. Companies are already investing in proper work from home equipment, including monitors, webcams, and desk chairs. Expect more WFH adjustments and benefits in the new norm, such as internet reimbursements, weekly lunch stipends, or ergonomic supplies.

3. Focus on Retention

A high attrition rate is never good for a business. When an employee resigns, the employer has to pay exit costs. And then, the company has to invest in hiring and training a new employee or as you may call it, the ex-employee replacement. And in such times, it is better to have people who know the work, company, and share its vision.

The new developments are likely to affect retention strategies of companies. Companies will provide employee benefits, health insurance, change leave structures, and much more.

The unprecedented crisis of Covid-19 has put organisations under pressure and forced them to change the way they worked. Employers had to constantly make sure that their existing employees were in the right frame of mindset and ensure a smooth hiring process while onboarding new employees. The second half of 2020 has seen a rise in employment opportunities and the year 2021 will be the year where HR managers will have to relook at their hiring and onboarding policies which will be vital for a smooth transition and growth.

4. Increased autonomy

2020’s quick adaptation proved that remote work can be successful. And workers proved they were up for the job. 2021’s most successful businesses will be conferring new levels of trust and autonomy by avoiding “productivity surveillance”. Further, people will be micromanaging, allowing workers to set their own schedules, and listening to their needs.

5. A rise in the use of collaboration platforms

Even in the earlier days of the 2020 pandemic, one thing was prominent — the situation will change businesses everywhere as countries across the globe adopted work from home policy. With the remote working model coming to the forefront, the focus also arrived on the collaboration, meeting, team management and productivity mapping tools and much more that can help businesses take control of the new normal. With many organisations extending work-at-home opportunities through the mid-next year, and others working from home forever, dependence on cloud-based collaboration platforms such as Flock, Trello, and others will only increase. In 2021, this will cause more focus, awareness and the need for data protection and management for collaboration software.

Read More: The Virus Impact: 10 tips to cope from home