MovePlan‘s Vanessa Manipon outlines the five key challenges for the workplace to consider as we hit the five year anniversary of Covid-19.
The post-pandemic workplace is a vastly different landscape than it was before 2020. With many professionals having spent extended periods working remotely, returning to the office has been met with new habits—some productive and others potentially detrimental. The shift back to in-person work presents hurdles in productivity, collaboration and overall workplace culture.
While remote work offered autonomy and flexibility, reintegrating into a structured office environment has revealed habits that hinder efficiency and cohesion. Understanding the roots of these habits, their potential upsides and strategies for fostering healthier workplace behaviors will help organizations adapt and thrive in this new era. Below are five key bad habits emerging in workplaces and strategies to address them.
1. Struggling to Complete a Full Workday in the Office
The Challenge: Many employees now find it difficult to stay in the office for a full day, leaving early due to traffic concerns, personal errands or family obligations. Remote work allowed employees to take breaks at their discretion, blending personal and professional time, greater flexibility and rigid office hours may feel restrictive. Unpredictable attendance patterns can disrupt team collaboration and reduce workplace engagement, affecting overall productivity and team dynamics.
The Upside: The increased flexibility from remote work has encouraged employees to optimize their schedules. Employees have learned to prioritize work-life balance, leading to reduced stress and potentially higher productivity in focused work environments. This adaptability can be beneficial if properly managed.
The Solution: Implementing flexible work hours or hybrid work models can ease this transition. Encouraging employees to set core in-office hours while allowing some flexibility for early departures or remote work can provide a compromise. Also, intentionally promote better time management strategies to optimize in-office productivity.
2. Sensitivity to Open Office Conversations and Preference for Private Calls
The Challenge: Many employees have grown accustomed to taking calls in controlled environments, making the return to open offices overwhelming. The constant background noise, impromptu conversations and general office buzz can feel distracting and stressful. The open office environment feels noisy and intrusive, making it difficult to focus or have private discussions. Some employees insist on taking calls in secluded spaces, reducing availability of meeting rooms and causing logistical challenges in managing office space efficiently.
The Upside: While the sensitivity to noise may seem like a drawback, it also highlights employees’ desire for work in solitude and focus. The desire for private space highlights a shift toward more intentional work habits. Employees value quiet, distraction-free environments, which can be beneficial for productivity. It also encourages a culture of respecting personal space and reducing background noise.
The Solution: Employers can provide designated quiet zones or soundproof phone booths for private calls. Additionally, encouraging employees to use noise-canceling headsets and establishing office etiquette for call volumes can help maintain a balance between openness and privacy.
3. Decline in Social Interactions and Office Engagement
The Challenge: The long period of remote work diminished many employees’ face-to-face social skills. Employees have grown reliant on virtual meetings, even when physically present in the office and are less inclined to engage in face-to-face interactions. This reduces organic collaboration and makes the office feel disconnected, leading to an overuse of meeting rooms, reduced spontaneous collaboration and a decline in overall office camaraderie.
The Upside: Employees are now more comfortable using digital tools to communicate. Virtual meetings offer convenience and efficiency, eliminating unnecessary movement and making collaboration easier across locations.
The Solution: Encouraging in-person interactions, such as scheduled team lunches, brainstorming sessions, or informal coffee breaks, can help rebuild workplace relationships. Organizations should also implement guidelines for meeting space usage, ensuring rooms are reserved for necessary in-person discussions rather than defaulting to virtual calls.
4. Overworking Due to ‘Always On’ Culture
The Challenge: The ability to work from anywhere has led to an expectation of constant availability, making it difficult for employees to disconnect. Some find the office too social and perceive remote work as their most productive time, leading to an imbalance between collaboration and focused work. Continuous overworking can lead to burnout, lower morale and reduced efficiency in both office and remote environments.
The Upside: Many employees have become highly self-sufficient and adaptable, using flexible work arrangements to maximize their productivity. Additionally, this fosters resilience and adaptability, which can be leveraged for future organizational challenges.
The Solution: Setting clear boundaries around work hours and expectations is crucial. Employers can encourage employees to turn off notifications after work hours and implement “focus time” policies for deep work. Additionally, creating structured in-office collaboration periods while leaving space for independent work ensures a balanced approach.
5. Casual Workplace Attitudes Impacting Professionalism
The Challenge: The informal nature of remote work has influenced professional behaviors in the office. Employees may dress more casually, take a more relaxed approach to workplace conduct, or push boundaries in terms of formality and etiquette. While comfort can foster creativity, excessive informality may erode professional standards and affect workplace perceptions.
The Upside: A more relaxed atmosphere can lead to increased comfort and creativity in the workplace, fostering a more inclusive and adaptable culture.
The Solution: Organizations should consider setting clear but flexible dress codes and professional behavior guidelines. Reinforcing expectations through leadership example and gentle reminders can help maintain professionalism while allowing for reasonable comfort. Striking a balance between formality and a modern, relaxed workplace culture will create a welcoming yet professional environment.
Moving Forward: Finding a Balance in the New Workplace
Return to office life is not about reverting to pre-pandemic norms but rather creating a hybrid environment that integrates the best of both worlds. The transition back to office life requires a cultural shift and open dialogue between employees and management. Employees have developed new work habits that prioritize focus, flexibility, and efficiency. Instead of viewing these as “bad habits,” workplaces should use them as opportunities to improve office culture, collaboration and productivity.
Leadership plays a crucial role in shaping workplace culture and ensuring the success of these solutions. Leaders set the tone for the organization by modeling the behaviors they wish to see. Their buy-in is critical for implementing changes such as flexible work hours, quiet zones and professional guidelines. In leading by example, actively engaging in-person, and reinforcing company values, leaders can drive positive change and create an environment that fosters productivity, collaboration and wellbeing.
Addressing these new habits with a combination of empathy, structure and clear expectations, companies can cultivate a workplace culture that is both productive and adaptable. The key lies in leveraging the benefits of these habits while mitigating their challenges, ensuring that the modern office remains a space for collaboration, efficiency and professional growth.
