As we all become accustomed to essential lifestyle changes in the face of Covid19, we are beginning to see the shift all around us. Face coverings are not only being worn in our Supermarkets, Cinemas & on our streets; but our television & online content is changing too.
Advertisers are now including face coverings, social distancing & advice on how their product or service can help during the pandemic. We are also seeing sporting event coverage with entire teams kept separate from each other, face coverings everywhere & most strangely of all, no spectators.
Our lives have changed & will most likely never be the same again & although we are finding new ways to adjust to the needs of pandemic protection in our daily lives: how does this affect & will this affect our working lives?
We are all aware of the furlough scheme by now & have all seen the tragic outcomes of 700,000 jobs already being lost due to the pandemic. As at time of print today, it has been announced that the UK is now in the first recession of 11 years, with the economy having shrunk by 20.4%
These are trying times, but there are those who are already considering what our future working lives may look like, in particular those who most regularly would be based in an office setting.
Millions of employees around the world, have traditionally been elbow to elbow in vast offices. Giant corporate companies have taken advantage of the low costs of high rise offices & in most recent years the concept of hotdesking to give greater flexibility, has become an on going trend.
However, the notion of ‘hot desking’ has had to stop as employees are now allocated their own spaces, with screens to separate them from their colleagues, one way systems in place, essential meetings being carried out by Zoom, face coverings in enclosed spaces & strict one way in, one way out entry & exit strategies in place. It is complicated.
Therefore, many office staff have now been encouraged to work from home during lockdown & continue to do so now, as their employers simply do not have the capacity to ensure social distancing protocols & Covid Secure protocols are in place.
For many, working patterns now involve limited access if any at all to a physical shared office space. For many, working from home has become & continues to remain the norm. Estate Agents are beginning to see a trend for those living in the inner cities, seeking suburban or rural relocations, with specific instructions that a bedroom be converted to a home office. Some Estate Agents are also seeing trends for those asking for homes with home office built in gardens & or capacity to do so.
The need for communication with work colleagues, bosses & teams is still a necessity for those working from home. Therefore, many employees & employers are now reliant on the use of digital formats such as zoom to remain in contact. WhatsApp team groups help support those at home with remaining in contact with colleagues.
However, how are some people adapting when they run their own businesses? & how in the face of a pandemic & recession, are they actually thriving?
A recent BBC report looked at how three women have not only had to adapt to remain in work, but also found that their work has become more successful in the face of having to alter their working patterns.
“Shermeena Rabbi, 39, is a speech therapist & businesswoman who lives in Essex & she runs a team of 25 therapists who work with people who have communication issues.” During Lockdown Shermeena has found resorting to using Zoom sessions with her clients has produced some surprisingly positive results. (1)
With parents being encouraged to assist with the physical side of the therapy, the team of Therapists noted that this type of engagement, turned out to be something surprisingly empowering & beneficial. (1)
Shermeena also found that her younger patients found engaging with therapy sessions on a screen a very natural thing to engage with. In addition, the families found they are benefiting from their travel costs being cut, which in turn, has a knock on positive environmental effect.
“Anna Wood, 40, runs her own bridal dress boutique in the village of Long Buckby, Northamptonshire” Anna began her bridal boutique with a specific focus on supporting nervous brides, who felt overwhelmed by the entire process.
Anna’s boutique is situated on a first floor which removes the ability for passers by to peep in, adding extra stress for the bride to be.
However, during lockdown Anna has not been able to use the physical boutique & like Shermeena, has turned to a digital format to engage with her clients.
“Although Anna loves the space, lockdown has made her question things, & she is now thinking of phasing out the physical boutique once the lease runs out.
She says working with brides remotely during lockdown has been “strange to get used to”, but ultimately makes sense for her business, and not just by cutting costs on things like rent, business rates and utility bills.
She can discuss potential dresses with customers by video call, sending them pictures, then organise fittings at designers’ stores or the bride’s home (as & when lockdown rules allow)” (1)
The third employee the report focussed on hasn’t even met her work colleagues, having started her job in April.
“Annabel Sheen, 30, joined the Imperial War Museum in London in April. The museum was closed to the public because of coronavirus.
Normally the building would have been the focus of her daily routine. Her role is to bring collections to life – her speciality is making digital exhibits.” (1)
Anna has found that working with digital formats, has enabled her to explore opportunities which were simply not being considered prior to lockdown.
Anna has produced videos whereby the Museum Curator had to film herself on her Smartphone & then have the footage edited. Exhibitions have been created entirely digitally & public lectures are now being taken online.
Each one of these Business women & Employees are a testament to how Covid19 has & continues to allow us to find alternative working methods & how in more & more cases, adapting to new ways has made them re-think their working methods & thrive.
We are all finding new ways to adapt in the face of Covid19. Despite the fact that we are now in a recession, there are more & more opportunities to flourish in new & innovative ways, with an ever changing focus on how we can all safely work alongside Covid19 & still ensure our economies recover.
Written by Katy-Jane for & on behalf of Virtually Smart Ltd
