There’s no question that the pandemic changed the way we work. The sudden transition to remote work created a new normal in a matter of months causing a sea change in our perspectives on what office work can and should look like. As workplaces open back up, employers are navigating uncharted waters with new health practices, hybrid workplaces, and changing cultural expectations.
There are a few emerging trends that point toward a new future of work, but in order to make the right changes to reopen workplaces, employers can’t just keep an eye on trends. It’s now more important than ever to use real-time feedback from employees to figure out what’s working and what’s not. Below are three significant changes that experts predict are here to stay, and how ViewPoint feedback kiosks and online surveys can help employers optimise these trends to suit their workforce.
Change #1: Employees will have a stronger voice
In Berkeley News, Cristina Banks, director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Healthy Workplaces, notes, “I think the balance of power between executives and workers is going to shift a little bit toward employees.” She predicts that the pandemic has left remote workers with a taste for autonomy and more freedom, and with the expectation that employers will do more to support the health and psychological wellbeing of their workforce.
However, many employers are also facing tighter budgets and don’t have the same resources to invest. In this situation, it’s crucial that employers make data-driven decisions based on employee feedback to avoid investing in the wrong solutions.
ViewPoint feedback kiosks collect real-time feedback from employees, with results available instantly in one centralised dashboard. Instead of sending periodic surveys that might reach employees at inopportune times, ViewPoint kiosks offer employees an ever-present way to make their voice heard. Employers can make quick decisions to adjust their workplaces in light of employee feedback, which in turn will help them stay competitive in the new landscape.
Change #2: Hybrid working arrangements will be more common
The hybrid office model of the new future will be a mix of remote and in-person work. This new model means more freedom for employees with the potential for working hours to shift to accommodate a better work-life balance. While there are a lot of benefits to this model, in the early days we are likely to see some growing pains.
For one, a hybrid office model places new demands on employers to find tech solutions to keep up with remote communication needs. Team building and office culture are also likely to be more difficult to maintain with fewer opportunities to socialise with coworkers face-to-face. Email and text communications are also rife with the potential for misinterpretation, creating an increased potential for conflict and misunderstanding.
As employers navigate putting this new model in place, it’s essential to have a way of collecting feedback from both in-person and remote employees. Periodic or scheduled online surveys are a great way to better understand employees working remotely, how they feel about their alternative working space and what support they might need.
Change #3: Physical office layouts will change
A recent Gartner survey of Financial and Real Estate leaders showed that 59% of them predict more shared office seating, with an increased number of office desks used as temporary seating rather than a permanent spot for one person. Office layouts will also need to accommodate social distancing and hygiene practices, with new barriers, one-way throughways, and touchless fixtures.
For some, fewer people in the office may mean re-envisioning the office as a hub, with more comfortable seating, better amenities, and perks to entice employees to visit. These shifts mean employers will need to have their finger on the pulse of employees who visit the office so they can monitor how effective these new changes are.
Feedback = positive change
About ViewPoint survey solutions
ViewPoint helps organisations to radically improve the quality of their services.
Placed in strategic spots—kitchens, common areas, near bath-rooms—they offer employees a way to instantly let employers know how the new changes are working out. Whether it’s an alert about an unsafe practice or feedback on a kitchen appliance malfunction, employers will get actionable feedback they can put to use right away.
Our unique smiley face surveys attract, engage, and encourage users to leave their thoughts. Four reasons feedback kiosks are the preferred feedback collection method:
- Lower cost customer survey solution
- Suitable for all environments
- Reliable and always on
- Highly accurate insights
Find out more about how real-time surveys can help you assess customer and staffing issues, monitor improvements, and compare departments to deliver the best service possible.
