Has the office changed forever due to COVID-19? For many employers that have successfully transitioned to remote work over the past year, the likely answer is yes.
Flexible scheduling that allows some workers to continue working remotely at least part of the week has been dramatically accelerated for a host of companies.
The results have been generally positive for many workers and employers. But there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to turning crisis management into an effective, long-term strategy.
As this week’s cover story reports, many of the state’s largest employers are understandably moving slowly to return workers to the office. While some employees who have worked from home are eager to return, many others want to continue working remotely.
Companies with committed, engaged workforces will successfully manage the transition. But the decisions they make will have ripple effects for years beyond their own bottom lines. For example, will companies now occupying large office buildings still need all that expensive space when their leases are up?
Unlike Boston and New York, Providence so far has not seen significant subleasing of office space by locked-in tenants.
But there’s demand for small office space in some other local communities, leading brokers to conclude more companies may look to downsize if their shift to remote work becomes permanent.
Advocates for downtown Providence – where businesses are already wondering how quickly workers and tourists will return – can only hope that doesn’t become a trend.