The pandemic has proven one thing: entrepreneurs are a creative bunch and will find solutions to solve all sorts of problems. Unfortunately, when quarantine restrictions hit, businesses were the first to suffer. As we all know, the economy received a serious blow during the first few months of the pandemic. It’s only this year that it has recovered, albeit very slowly.
However, it isn’t only the economic problems we should talk about but how COVID-19 has changed the way we work. This article will talk about offices and whether if we need them or not. But first, let’s get into how businesses are getting by in their offices and what they have done to adapt to the changing circumstances.
Office Shutdowns
Office shutdowns were common during the first few months of the pandemic. This is because most small businesses in the US are non-essential businesses such as restaurants and tourism. However, one of the biggest hits is taken by the biggest companies in the country.
For example, General Motors, one of the biggest auto-manufacturing companies globally, had to shut down two production plants due to a lack of supplies. Because of this, the company lost billions of dollars in production last year, money that the company is not expecting to regain back any time soon.
Likewise, 24 Hour Fitness, one of the leading gym corporations in the US, had to shut down many of their offices and their gyms. These are just some examples of office shutdowns all over the country. But how are they adapting to the pandemic? The answer is simple: work-at-home policies.
Work-at-home Policies
Work-at-home policies have been implemented quite recently and are one of the main reasons the US economy is slowly recovering. Big companies such as Facebook and Twitter are leading the charge and experiencing their own problems. As a result, they are finding ways to make work-at-home policies more bearable for their employees.
We all know it, and we are all probably doing it now. It seems that work-at-home policies or remote work are here to stay. However, one of the essential parts of implementing these policies is moving equipment from one home to the next.
Moving
One of the most crucial parts of a growing business is moving the company to a bigger and more prominent business location. But this isn’t the case for all the businesses operating during the pandemic.
The reality nowadays is that moving companies have to move from an office location to people’s homes. Work at home policies is in full swing in the US, affecting how offices work. Thankfully, many local movers dedicated their time and effort to help these businesses survive. They helped employees move their equipment in their homes, ready to operate as normal. This is a time-consuming move because it’s dropping equipment from one home to the next. But it is certainly crucial for many businesses today.
Do Businesses Still Need Offices Today?
It seems that work-at-home policies are here to stay, now that we’ve settled in our homes, with little need to move back to traditional offices. This is seen in the recent surveys conducted by Pew Research. They found that more than half of employees would like it better if they continue working at home. The survey also found few problems with equipment and meeting their deadlines while working at home. How about business owners? Do they have the same sentiments?
It is quite unclear whether if the majority of entrepreneurs want to continue with a work-at-home policy. But the numbers don’t lie. Many small businesses can save up money through such a policy. Rent, utility bills, and cleaning services are almost non-existent for many businesses that do remote work. This is the bulk of the expenses that traditional businesses have. Knowing this, will physical offices still be around in the future?
Physical Offices Are Here to Stay
The reality is that no matter how good virtual offices are, they can’t beat the interaction that physical offices have. For many industries, there are many advantages to having a physical office. Take, for example, the automotive industry, where they have to produce vehicles daily and check the quality of their products. Even digital companies like Facebook and Twitter still require physical offices to function.
Regardless of the advantages of having no rent and utilities to pay for every month, many experts believe that more companies will rent offices after most of its working population is vaccinated. This is because office space will be cheaper than ever, and no company will ever pass such a discounted offer.
Meta title: Do Businesses Still Need Physical Offices Post-pandemic?
meta desc: Work-at-home policies seem to have too many advantages, with people staying safe and healthy. Will companies still need physical offices in the future?
