When considering where we work, how we interact with each other, and the motivations/satisfactions tied to our work life, there was a defining moment in time. The pandemic split time into two eras, Before COVID and After COVID.
The differences that exist between Before COVID and After COVID have truly brought about an evolution.
Those of us in the workforce before COVID remember almost always commuting to an office or plant, and then home again every workday. The journey was usually directly affected by the mood of the “traffic jam” gods and what they chose to put in our way. While this was altered fairly dramatically from 2020 – 2021, allowing for a great deal of work-from-home opportunities. Since 2022, the return to onsite work has begun to take hold again, although there remain a number of “hybrid” options.
More important than altering the geographic requirements of employment, there was also a disruption in the traditional educational and interactive skills development for professionals that were still in school. And for the workforce in general, the isolation brought on by the pandemic as well as the high availability of remote job situations recast the need for effective communication and office etiquette.
The upside to the After COVID work model is that the concept of work/life balance has finally been brought into the light, which has allowed for personal evaluation. People wrestled, and still wrestle, with what is really important to them. Other benefits of this new work model include increased talent pool[1] and overhead cost savings for employers[2].
Unfortunately, some of the results of the Before COVID to After COVID shift are not having a desirable effect. High on this list are the perceptions that employers have regarding a decline in worker soft skills and professional development.[3] There is also a perceived disconnect with connection to company organizational culture. But ultimately the one area that can benefit current employees and job candidates alike is to discover or reconnect with their soft skills.
Foot Notes:
[1] HR Morning – Benefits of remote work for both employees & employers
[2] PierPoint – The Future of Remote Work & Its Economic Impact
[3] MarketPlace – Employers seek better soft skills from next generation of workers