| | April 20218year ago, not much about the way we worked had really changed in decades. Most companies still organized work around major hubs in large cities and their workforce was comprised of local talent that commuted to the office every day, regardless of the type of work they needed to complete. Then the global pandemic hit, and everything changed. Flexible work models replaced traditional ones as people were forced to work from home, and work became an activity, not a place. And the change has just begun. In the year ahead, flexible work models will become the new norm, driving levels of employee engagement, productivity and economic impact the likes of which the world hasn't seen since the first industrial revolution. And four key trends will fuel them:Haters will no longer hateThe universal work from home experiment set forth by the pandemic has changed long-held misconceptions about remote work. Once dubious that `real work' could get done outside the office, executives and managers are now realizing the positive impact it can have on employee productivity, work-life balance, mental health, costs, and the environment. According to a study conducted by Citrix and OnePoll, 70 percent of 10,000 employees feel they are as or more productive working remotely. And 83 percent feel they have a better work-life balance when working outside the office. Savvy companies are taking note of this and in the year ahead will embrace technology-enabled remote work models that allow them to tap into new skills and talent pools that are beyond commuting distance to traditional work hubs (offices, call centers, etc.) and reap the benefits the benefits they provide.Employees will shun the officeHistorically, the office was the place where collaboration and innovation happened. Outside meeting spaces, colleagues held casual conversations in hallways, cafeterias and gyms. But protocols designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus have changed this. Employees must be screened before they enter an office and wear personal protective equipment and socially distance once inside. Safety guidelines will limit office capacity for the foreseeable future, causing even knowledge workers to transition to shift work. Many employees simply don't want to deal with the hassle and anxiety associated with all of this. In fact, 64 percent of 2,000 respondents to a separate Citrix-OnePoll survey said they would not feel comfortable returning to the office for one month or more. And three percent said they don't ever want to go back full time. Recognizing this, companies will reimagine the role of the office and shift from designing places to purpose-built spaces where regardless of where they work, employees can efficiently and effectively collaborate with colleagues, partners and customers to drive innovation and value.WORK 2021: PREPARE FOR A FLEXIBLE FUTURE By Tim Minahan, Executive Vice President of Strategy, CitrixWith his expertise in strategic business development, and marketing skills, the company is achieving success.AIN MY OPINIONTim Minahan, Executive Vice President of Strategy
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