Will people return to offices once COVID-19 infections are under control?

As a trump card for curbing the spread of COVID-19 infections, vaccinations have started around the world. But it is still unclear if this will truly bring the pandemic to an end. Once we start to gain some level of control over infections, will people return to offices as they did before?

As a key measure to reduce opportunities for contact between people and prevent the spread of infections, many of the world's major countries have strongly recommended that people work from home instead of offices. That is because since office work is already centered around the use of PCs, by using tools such as email, chat systems and online meeting systems, we were equipped to start work-from-home systems right away.

I suspect that this type of working from home will remain to some extent as a so-called new normal in the post-COVID world. This is a view that has recently been gaining support. In fact, the search for an "optimal structure," such as working three days at the office and two days remote, has already begun between corporate executives and employees.

Although a lot of working from home started as a measure against infections, as many employees have found it surprisingly pleasant, maybe they can no longer put up with the prospect of using up their valuable time on a miserable commute five days a week. On top of that, employees who need to care for the elderly or raise children are experiencing the benefits of flexible working systems that enable them to work from home.

Having said that, many bugs and usage difficulties have been reported in online meetings that include a mix of office and at-home workers. Audio being cut off or images being distorted due to insufficient line capacity has become a daily occurrence.

Complaints also persist about difficulties doing things that were possible with conventional in-person meetings, like getting everyone on the same page or checking detailed points of understanding after a meeting.

One the other hand, since it is unlikely that the spread of infections will be halted completely, a certain number of employees averse to office work will likely remain working from home, while there will also be a group of "essential worker" type people who, despite wanting to work from home, will be unable to due to work restrictions.

In any case, further improvements will need to be made to the office environment so that employees will be able to choose flexible working styles based on the nature of their work, without being forced by corporate executives to work in an office. At the Ricoh Group, where office work support services are our main domain, we will need to support the development of more pleasant work environments through new business equipment and tools that utilize digital technologies, and through the development and supply of systems that integrate them.