Without getting into the tragedies (or permanent damage) befalling so many, or the stupid culture war raging over masks and schools and lockdowns, or how such a crisis is a would-be dictator's wet dream (and I'm not picking a side politically, they're all power-lusting parasites to me):
My optimistic take?
Companies will realize that:
knowledge workers can be far more productive without distractions and commutes
office space (and HVAC, and security, and...) is ridiculously, exorbitantly overpriced, and that money can be better invested in workforce allowed to work from anywhere
Employees will stand up for themselves more, e.g. either not returning to the office or finding new jobs which don't require them to.
Micromanagers (who are currently in full blown panic mode) will be exposed for the ineffective frauds they are, as they grow more frantic to "prove" (yet less able to make the case) that it's their cracking of the proverbial whip that gets things done.
New startups will emerge, born of necessity and ingenuity.
My pessimistic take?
Few of the lessons from COVID will stick long-term, and even the companies now embracing remote work are a management shakeup away from pulling a Marissa Meyer and calling everyone back to the office.
During a protracted recession, employees will take anything they can and dutifully return to the office.
Even in companies remaining remote, micromanagers will weather the storm and simply impose more spying methods on employees.
Companies large and small will fail, and both economic fallout and government interference will lead to more corporate consolidation/less competition (just like they did a little over a decade ago).
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Without getting into the tragedies (or permanent damage) befalling so many, or the stupid culture war raging over masks and schools and lockdowns, or how such a crisis is a would-be dictator's wet dream (and I'm not picking a side politically, they're all power-lusting parasites to me):
My optimistic take?
Companies will realize that:
Employees will stand up for themselves more, e.g. either not returning to the office or finding new jobs which don't require them to.
Micromanagers (who are currently in full blown panic mode) will be exposed for the ineffective frauds they are, as they grow more frantic to "prove" (yet less able to make the case) that it's their cracking of the proverbial whip that gets things done.
New startups will emerge, born of necessity and ingenuity.
My pessimistic take?
Few of the lessons from COVID will stick long-term, and even the companies now embracing remote work are a management shakeup away from pulling a Marissa Meyer and calling everyone back to the office.
During a protracted recession, employees will take anything they can and dutifully return to the office.
Even in companies remaining remote, micromanagers will weather the storm and simply impose more spying methods on employees.
Companies large and small will fail, and both economic fallout and government interference will lead to more corporate consolidation/less competition (just like they did a little over a decade ago).