FUTURE OF WORK 2020

What is 2020 teaching us about the future of work?

A comprehensive survey conducted by UNSW and Davenport Campbell, questioning Australians on workplaces changes since COVID-19 has given us a great deal of insight into what the workplace might look like moving forward.

Toyota Melbourne Steve Brown Photography

We have been tackling issues of flexible, distributed working, and the ultimate work life balance for decades; then 2020 comes along. Within the span of a few short weeks the world has shied to a distributed workforce, working and schooling from home seemingly with minimal protest or glitch.

No time for overthinking or change management

Thrown into a global survival mode and on the brink of recession, individuals and businesses are doing their best to maintain business as usual, doing whatever necessary to keep a roof over their heads and their loved ones safe and healthy. Working remotely in this environment has created a complex notion of choice, and we are not driven by our usual incentives. In this high-stakes situation, uncertainty and fear are powerful motivators to keep even the most rogue of employees accountable, but these are unsustainable long-term drivers, with potentially serious mental and physical health implications. However, as adaptive human beings, we will develop new behavioural patterns as the dust settles. For workplace designers trying to pre-empt what is next, this unique moment in time offers an opportunity to learn more deeply about what’s important and redefine the essentials of the future physical workplace.

Remote working seems to be instinctive, with 66% of respondents acclimatising within days and only 3% feeling that they may never adjust.