The future of the workplace is now

With so much uncertainty – what will the workplace of the future look like for businesses across the globe? Our virtual event explored this issue in detail.

Will increased flexibility impact inclusivity? How will a lack of geographical barriers impact hiring decisions? And will companies need to re-think the way they build teams?

In one of our roundtable discussions, Specialist Staffing Group's parent company CEO and fellow thought leaders from Salesforce, Retail Me Not, and VM Ware discussed the opportunities and challenges that a virtual working environment presents for both employers and professionals.

Want to know a little more about what was discussed? Check out some of our biggest takeaways below.

Lessons from the Pandemic: Building the future of work

There is no more room for excuses

Pre-pandemic, the US unemployment rate for people with disabilities was 2.5 times higher than the national average. In some cases, employers were unwilling to make investments needed to allow for a divergent workforce. But increased remote working in the future will open talent pools and enable a more diverse workforce to thrive.

Good leaders will shine more

The focus on output, productivity and value is going to be the only real way to measure performance. This gives leaders a real opportunity to shine and help to develop skills within their team – those who can communicate effectively, deliver clear instructions, and lead teams to achieve results will thrive in the workplace of the future.

Tech-enabled engagement

When leading large teams, finding the best way to communicate with team members on an individual basis can be tough. Using tech to build connections gives leaders the opportunity to reach out and offer support to those who may need it most. Yes, a virtual environment might present obstacles when it comes to engagement – but if good leaders are taking the initiative, there’s a huge opportunity for teams to be more connected than ever before.

Inclusivity strategies must be addressed

New levels of flexibility will likely lead to increased inclusivity – which is great. But we can’t forget that while remote working may enable diversification of teams in some areas, there will be those that are negatively impacted. For example, people with hearing or vision impairments may struggle when working from a laptop or communicating in virtual conference calls. Business leaders will have to address this and make sure that adaptions are made for those in need – everyone needs accessibility, regardless of the environment.

Building the Future of Work

There is a huge question being addressed right now – how do we find time to complete work and stay social without Zoom-fatigue? We have an opportunity to build the future and addressing this challenge will be an integral component of that.