HOW TO CULTIVATE RESILIENCE IN A NEW ERA OF HYBRID WORK BY AMBER MATTHEWS, DIRECTOR, WORKSPACE FUTURES APAC & EMEA RESEARCH, STEELCASE As one of the most diverse regions in the world, Asia represents a mosaic of cultures and perspectives, businesses and opportunities. Naturally, when the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, every company entered the situation with different strengths and vulnerabilities.
robust, adaptable work environment in times of stability and uncertainty. It comes down to people and the power of place – if you invest in these key areas, you can help employees reach their potential and cultivate a better workplace where trust, productivity, innovation and culture thrive.
In some places, an almost immediate shift to remote work sent companies scrambling to digitise their work environments and develop new processes. Other companies continued to work in the office amid rising concerns about physical distancing, indoor air quality and general cleanliness. More still grappled with technology glitches and feelings of isolation, Zoom fatigue and dips in productivity.
Navigating multiple work patterns For many companies in Hong Kong and across Asia, fully remote work was a necessary move during the pandemic, but it did not answer the needs of employers or employees. It did, however, open Pandora's box – employees grew accustomed to working at home and expect a hybrid work model going forward. As a result, business leaders find themselves at a crossroads.
Over the past 2.5 years, companies have had time to figure out how to adapt to the pandemic situation, with some faring better than others. But the pandemic is unlikely to be the last societal upheaval most of us experience during our careers, so how can companies cultivate resilience in the face of turbulent circumstances in the future – be that political unrest, natural disasters or mass migration?
"Eighty per cent of the change management has already been done, which was allowing work-fromhome. It was [a] big [step] for people to accept this, and ask managers to accept that their team will be working from home. Now we are trying to see what really fits our company moving forward,” said a Workplace Experience Manager from the pharmaceutical industry.
While there is no blueprint for navigating such challenges, our Steelcase research, and meaningful conversations with our partners in AsiaPacific can shed light on how to create a more XXXX
Many companies face the same challenge. According to Steelcase’s “Changing Expectations and the Future of Work”, released in 2021, 83% of leaders in China and 85% in India expect to offer a XXXXX 19
