Find out how brands can prepare for the future of work

The corporate world has been going through a series of changes in recent years, brought, in large part, by successful companies from Silicon Valley that spread the “startups culture”. Gradually, gamified operations, informal dress code, offices with games and fun decorations were inserted in the dynamics of organizations that started to orient their business models towards the future of work: innovation.

Recently, with the pandemic, managers had to quickly incorporate new work dynamics, and adaptations were not limited to the remote work or projects to change the office interior. The digital transformation has shed light on the importance of interpersonal skills and humanization in the corporate environment. To understand what awaits us and prepare, check out some insights we’ve gathered in this article!

Not everything is because of covid-19

It is true that the coronavirus crisis has transformed the dynamics of work and relationships around the world. But not all changes can be attributed to this. Experts have already been alerting companies to the need to adopt a culture geared towards people, in addition to rethinking their processes for the digital universe, which requires resizing the work environment, as well as all forms of interaction between the company and its stakeholders.

The arrival of generation Z to the corporate market has also caused rearrangements in the culture of many companies. These young people seek hyperconnected and diverse environments, in addition to more collaborative paths for leadership. This brings changes both to the training of managers and to their postures in the work spaces.

To deal with so many demands, it is essential that companies have a consistent brand strategy, capable of connecting people and communicating their values at all points of contact. According to futurist Tiago Mattos, when people cannot move to meet, the connection protocol between them becomes belonging.

What awaits us in the future of work

The behavioral changes resulting from the pandemic and the digital transformation implemented at record speed give us some clues as to what lies ahead in the scope of work. Here are some examples:

Community environments

The mindset, little by little, changes from “ownership” to “access”, and some companies have also applied this thinking to reimagine their corporate routines. In June, XP Investimentos sent its employees the e-book “XP from Anywhere”, in which it offered its position on the future of work in the company and suggested the possibility of moving its headquarters to the city of São Roque, in the surroundings of Sao Paulo.

In addition to designing a new routine for employees, the company is working on the proposal to transform the current offices into concept offices, which support specific demands: training, face-to-face dynamics and reception of customers and partners, being used by several people in different ways and at different times.

Also in line with this new proposal to occupy the office – which some have called “hot desking” – the New Zealand design company Gustav Concept launched a portable kit that helps employees to quickly set up their workspace. It includes an ergonomic notebook holder, pen holder and an organizer panel.

Lower density of employees

The most immediate effect of the pandemic is the necessary adaptations to maintain a safe distance between people in the workplace. For this reason, some companies have reconfigured the layout of their offices, aiming to reduce the occupancy capacity and allow greater ventilation in the environment.

Creative and practical solutions help to keep that distance. In an interview with the Estado de Minas newspaper, architect Liana Tessler Szyflinger said that, for meeting rooms, she has created “U” tables, which impose a distance of two meters.

Inspired by Playplax construction kits (famous in the 60s), designer Zahava Elenburg produced a modular acrylic partition that “transforms” tables into individual work spaces. The kits are already on sale and the designer is donating part of the profits to organizations that are helping to repair the damage caused by the fires in Australia.

Focus on well-being and safety

If the offices were already starting to reconfigure themselves to create an environment that favored the coexistence between people, with the new cleaning protocols brought by the pandemic, they tend to incorporate devices and practices that provide an even greater feeling of coziness, but without dispensing safety standards.

“People will only feel comfortable returning to the work environment if it provides a sense of security and a way to relieve the tension of the outside world,” said designer Clayton Whitman to Work Design magazine.

Even before the coronavirus crisis, Pande was already designing corporate environments capable of providing a feeling of lightness and inspiring employees, without leaving functionality aside. A good example was made at the administrative headquarters of Bunge – an agribusiness, food and bioenergy company -, where we use fun colors, shapes and phrases, which refer to the main brands of the group. And to surprise employees even more, we did the entire “renovation” of the environments in one weekend!

The pandemic accelerated the incorporation of trends foreseen for the future of work and required adaptations. But in addition to the current moment, the fact is that, increasingly, companies understand that, to innovate, generate value and make the most of the resources brought by technology, it is necessary to insert people at the center of their changes and decisions. Is your brand ready to face new challenges and opportunities?

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