The Top 8 Ways 2021 Changed the Way We Work

The past two years have revolutionized the way companies and their employees approach work and productivity. While 2020 compelled companies to experiment and pivot unexpectedly, 2021 was the year that companies perfected their new formulas for the way we work. Social scientists, economists and business executives now believe the world of work has changed forever.

1. Hybrid Work Became the Norm

Some companies and their employees embraced remote work and have no intentions of returning to the office. Most companies have chosen a hybrid model instead. It involves employees working in the office, from home or both. This compelled tech companies around the world to change their product offerings and build infrastructure that supports the hybrid workforce. Common examples include Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

2. Flexibility Influenced the Way We Work

For years, companies followed a simpler formula for differentiation. They found what worked for them, perfected the plan, and stuck to it. The realities of 2020 and 2021 prompted companies to rethink established working norms and embrace flexibility and agility instead. This makes it possible for companies to pivot successfully in ever-changing socio-economic environments that could close a business’s physical doors at a moment’s hint.

3. Workers Regained the Upper Hand in the Market

By the end of 2021, companies had lost 38 million workers to resignations. Most of these employees left low-paying service industries and blue-collar work to pursue greener pastures. Workers now aimed to work because they wanted to and not because they had to. This compelled companies to rethink what they could afford to offer as compensation. It also forced companies to offer flexibility, which contributes to the popularity of hybrid work opportunities.

4. Companies Confronted Culture

Companies have a culture whether they choose to create one or not. For years, companies focused on the customer experience and legal compliance in the office, but they let culture happen on its own. The transition into remote work compelled managers to confront company culture and how it affects the way we work. That way, they could determine how to digitize it in a way that current and new employees could engage with.

5. Meeting Times Changed

Until 2021, managers usually scheduled meetings for half an hour or an hour. However, the frequency of meetings and the need to preserve worker well-being created a new norm. Workers now wanted to schedule meetings with buffers, so they could take breaks. Most meetings apps have now changed their settings to make it easy to create 25-minute or 50-minute meetings. For some apps, this is the default setting.

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6. Parents Gained New Co-Workers

As workers moved to remote working conditions, students also transitioned into remote learning. For many households, this created a shared office space between parents and children. It prompted families to experiment with different setups, so they could create privacy and ensure productivity. Since then, some children have returned to in-class learning, but many schools have allowed students to remain at home.

7. Self-Employment Saw a Rebound

The gig economy took a big hit in 2020. The socio-economic realities put some small businesses owners out of work and compelled them to return to regular employment. Others chose to wait out the market on disaster relief loans and unemployment checks. By the second quarter of 2021, self-employment had increased by 17.6%. This returned self-employment to the levels they stood at in 2019.

8. The Workweek Is Getting Shorter

During 2020, workers put in extra hours and went above and beyond to reduce the likelihood of losing their jobs. Now, workers around the world are advocating for a four-day workweek, which will irrevocably change the way we work and travel. Some workers have already received their wish, and Forbes believes this trend could continue. It predicts companies will move to four-day workweeks, five-hour days and staggered schedules.

Use Cloud Computing To Address the Way We Work

With more people working remotely, technical competence became crucial for succeeding in the workplace. Employees learned how to complete tasks remotely via cloud computing and often served as their own technicians when minor issues occurred. Companies seeking long-term solutions with fewer technical issues turned to cloud computing suites, such as Office 365 and the Microsoft Viva suite.

Migrating to the cloud reduced the inefficiencies caused by using fragmented cloud apps across several platforms. It created one cohesive environment for work and even for managing well-being. Contact Cloudficient to determine how we can help you migrate to the cloud and access amazing software that addresses the realities of the way we work today.

With unmatched next generation migration technology, Cloudficient is revolutionizing the way businesses retire legacy systems and transform their organization into the cloud. Our business constantly remains focused on client needs and creating product offerings that match them. We provide affordable services that are scalable, fast and seamless.

If you would like to learn more about how to bring Cloudficiency to your migration project, visit our website, or contact us.