Working from home has become common, during the course of the pandemic(疫情), leaving many with a newfound appreciation of the freedom and flexibility of working remotely. However, while the traditional idea of an office—a place away from home, typically owned or rented by the business—may have changed, the need for specific office space hasn’t.
In fact, this period of working from home has highlighted just how important it is to have a place of work, which is separate from daily family life. Without that, many have noted concerns over a worsened work-life balance.
Perhaps the most distinctive characteristic of the office of the future will be its hybrid solution. It should marry the beneficial parts of a physical company-owned workspace with the benefits of working from home.
As teams have proven their ability to efficiently get their jobs done remotely, employers will be much more open to the flexible approach moving forward. The positive impacts of a physical office on things like company culture, communication, team spirit and shared knowledge should not be ignored, which is why tangible space is still very much a necessity.
The solution for the future will enable employees to come into the company’s workplace in order not to miss out on these valuable office benefits, but also work from home when required for a better work-life balance. Both large and smaller companies have already started to adopt this new approach, allowing teams to create schedules for when they will be working from home, or even use an online booking system to secure a desk space in the shared facility. This way, the company can manage the number of people in the office at one time, meaning spaces can be downsized to save costs, and social distancing and thorough cleaning procedures can be maintained.
【小题1】What is the potential problem with working from home?| A．Imbalance between work and life. | B．Change of the idea of an office. |
| C．Lack of working space at home. | D．Too much freedom in remote work. |
| A．Empty. | B．Separate. | C．Physical. | D．Flexible. |
| A．It is well received by companies. | B．It limits the number of employees. |
| C．It makes thorough cleaning unnecessary. | D．It is helpful for workers to design schedules. |
| A．Social Distance: A Pressing Need | B．Working Remotely: A Growing Trend |
| C．Traditional Office: To Leave or to Stay | D．Hybrid Workplace: Office of the Future |
