The aftermath of the pandemic has triggered substantial changes in the corporate landscape, particularly pertaining to the workspace. In preparation for the upcoming year, we conducted a survey encompassing inputs from six executives at Works who shared their views on remote work practices in 2023. Here’s a snapshot of their feedback.
1. New forms of collaboration will demand revolutionary approaches to meetings
The CEO and Co-Founder, Glenn Tay
According to Reclaim.ai’s study, remote staff members had meetings that spanned an average of 21.5 hours every week in October 2022, compared to 14.2 hours in February the same year. This translates to over 50% of their workweek solely dedicated to virtual meetings. When companies that weren’t adequately prepared for remote working transition to decentralized teamwork, this attachment to meetings may have a detrimental impact on productivity and psychological health. By 2023, innovative meeting structures, such as walk-and-talk meetings, could be instrumental in reducing the prevalence of Zoom fatigue.
2. Transparency in goal orientation will be prevalent in future management methodologies
EVP/GM of Client Solutions
The global trend of hybrid or entirely remote offices is gaining momentum, and it’s evident that managers must take additional measures to ensure the efficacy of a distributed workforce. Establishing realistic goals, deadlines, and checkpoints is necessary to guarantee successful remote work. Clear and concise communication is also critical when managing a team spanning across different time zones, to ensure that everyone stays updated.
3. The battle for talent will involve more than compensation and perks
Head of Data & Analytics
Offering competitive compensation and benefits packages is no longer sufficient for attracting top-tier talent. Companies must acknowledge the social aspect of work and invest in offsite meetings and opportunities for employees to attend industry conferences.
4. More workers will divide their time between full-time and part-time positions
Vice President of Product
More independent contractors are being hired by companies, which could potentially lead to an increase in job sharing, where two or more individuals collaborate to fill a single position. Given the current shortage of available talent, businesses may have no option but to adopt this approach.
5. Coworking spaces will make a comeback
EVP and GM of Talent Solutions
With the increased interest in hybrid work arrangements, the demand for shared office spaces is expected to rise. During the pandemic, when traditional workplaces had to close down, individuals who valued both flexibility and social interaction found a viable solution in coworking spaces.
6. The demand for college degrees will continue to decline
CSO (Chief Strategy Officer)
ZipRecruiter reports that the percentage of advertised job openings requiring a bachelor’s degree has decreased from 11% in 2022 to 7% this year. This trend is expected to persist in the following year, as companies place more emphasis on hands-on experience than academic knowledge. Consequently, early recruitment with the expectation of demonstrable job performance within the first month is becoming a more routine practice, and alternative education programs and bootcamps are gaining popularity.
