There are several articles and blogs written on how the COVID 19 pandemic is going to affect workplace design and also effective ways of getting back at work. Both employees and employers are facing complex challenges that definitely require shift in management, processes and culture that exist in our current workforce. In many ways, business structures will need to be redefined in ways that challenge the way we all functioned.

Also, if we do not take time to examine our present, then we run the risk of not recognizing that the future is happening as we speak. It is, therefore, important to examine the impacts to the future workplace with more nuances — through the lens of specific work activities rather than general job types. …

Yesterday, when I was on a con call with some of my clients, we faced some disturbances that made the call difficult and even awkward at times. There were pressure cooker whistles, internet disruptions, as well as doorbells ringing in the background, while we discussed some life-altering design ideas.

Now, given the situation we are in, it is okay to face such problems. The more important thing is, we are still going strong in the face of struggling times. But this led me to think deeply about the importance of going to the office. Most leading companies have called for work from home policy due to the pandemic. And, of course, it is the need of the hour. But when I face questions about the existence of office, I wonder if it is at all possible to work from home forever. For some professions, it is still believable; however, for others, it is only theoretically feasible to talk about getting the work done from home. I know this because I have seen the jeopardy that our project managers have faced during lockdown times. It was difficult for me to see it as a leader because I could see how they were putting efforts into meeting the ends. I could see how each one of them was adding more hours, more activeness to make things possible. …

It is hard to talk about workplaces without mentioning about cafeterias.

In fact, for a lot of people, it is the workplace. It is where they create quality work, develop their ideas-and also where they often build a network. It is that one place where they unwind after a stressful day. Lastly, it is probably also where they brag the most and talk to their friends, peers and family. Being one of the biggest social magnets, in terms of office interiors-it is hard not to keep it in consideration.

In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, however, paradigms regarding workplaces are changing. Hence, it is all but a guarantee that how cafeterias are perceived and constructed will be affected. So, how can one of the most social places in the offices be perceived in a time when maintaining distance is the ultimate necessity? What happens to the eternal appeal of a swanky, cool and creative cafeteria design? …

While we, as of now, remain in an uphill climb, regarding our work-life — step-by-step, we continue to inch towards reclaiming and restoring most aspects of it. It may not be the same, for a long time — but the show must go on. C’est la vie.

Our return to the world of work requires us to bear more responsibility than ever before. It requires us now to embody our positive qualities even more and help our colleagues and co-workers embody them as well. Being your ‘best at the workplace’ means much more now than it used to. We often achieve great things collectively and it is how we overcome the biggest challenges. …

With the country’s economy going through the toughest turbulence, every company is facing an impending plight that is going to make things different. While the coronavirus has become one of the greatest losses of human lives recently, the virus has also deeply infected the world’s industrialization. Today, the reality is twisted with such adversity that it is becoming difficult to think ahead of a future that doesn’t carry the impact of COVID-19. This is surely one of the hardest times for everyone and definitely for the entrepreneurs. Known to find success through risks, entrepreneurs are now juggling with their company’s future and employee well-being. …

As the pandemic continues to scatter our older realities, everyone is curious about how things will turn when we get back to our routines. And one of the most crucial routines will be returning to our offices. It’s been over a month in India and even two-three months in other countries that workplaces have been shut down and work has been taken to homes. Among despair, uncertainty and motivations, we all have stood strong in this situation and now probably the time will be soon when we can be again our old selves. But then, this time may have created a dominant change in our lives, the world economy and certainly in our workplaces. So, what do we go back to? One of our lead designers quoted, “Even though COVID-19 gets over, there will be alterations in our lifestyles and workplace will be one of the most important facets in it.” Therefore, this will be the beginning of a new kind of workplace design that will be more human-concerned and more future-proof. …

As the world witnesses common havoc, there are so many things that are changing along. From quarantine to extra attention to hygiene, we are facing a parallel reality where desolation has become a solution. These hard times are largely changing the way we live our daily routines. Going to office has changed into getting ready for work at home and brainstorming ideas over cups of coffee has changed into virtual discussions, while we are getting acquainted with this new kind of life, we need to be prepared for “work from home”.

Now that major companies in the world have given a heads-up for work from home, people are going to miss their well-designed workplaces for sure. However, this is only a temporary situation that will eventually find its way out. But that doesn’t mean we can’t improve the working styles. …

According to Wrike’s United States stress statistics from 2019, 94% of American workers report experiencing stress at their workplace. While this result is a cause of many factors; studies are suggesting that one of the major contributors of work-related stress is the unavailability of stress-free zones at work. To combat these, many dissertations have revealed that the inclusion of collaborative and individual spaces in offices can help impact an employee’s health tremendously. …