It has been approximately six months since provinces across Canada went into a State of Emergency, declaring all non-essential businesses to shut down until further notice. Companies that were able to transition into 100% remote environments were able to continue their day-to-day business operations. Since then, provinces, such as Ontario, have extended the order 11 times. Suddenly, organizations across Canada found themselves fast-tracking durable practices for remote work.

Now, the question on everybody’s mind is “What will the return to on-site work look like?” Since employees and employers have realized that it is possible to offer the flexibility to work effectively from home, what options will be made available for the employee who would prefer to continue working from home? Experts believe that we will see a smooth transition to more balanced work options. Although some organizations may not continue with 100% remote work, many are likely to at least offer employees the opportunity to work from home 75% of the time. During this time, organizations are likely to see an increase in the use of video-calling and the use of other software tools.

While there are benefits to working on-site, including the convenience of having the whole team in the same space to collaborate on projects, there are likely to be significant changes to traditional workplace practices. Offices will have to be social-distancing-friendly, and you can say goodbye to formal handshakes and crowded elevators. This won’t mean that working on-site is impossible, but it does mean that the transition will have to be carefully planned and executed to minimize risks while ensuring efficiency.