For many of us, meetings have become much more frequent than ever before, and many of them rely on video. How many interactions do you have now via screen compared to face-to-face conversations?
In fact, we are spending more time in screen-based interactions and less in direct meetings. We can say that this is the biggest change affecting the way we work and will have a long-term impact on human behaviors and workplace culture. The shift from face-to-face interaction to screen-based interaction has completely changed work behaviors, which in turn has a significant impact on organizational culture and employee well-being.
According to the latest research, people are spending more time in virtual collaboration sessions compared to in-person interactions. This shift began gradually and then accelerated rapidly in recent years. The transition became noticeable in the 2000s with the rise of smartphones equipped with cameras and video conferencing technology becoming more widespread. With the increasing popularity of platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom, people can join meetings from anywhere, making remote work easier. However, the pandemic was the factor that accelerated the adoption process and led to radical changes in work behaviors.
Remote work and communication platforms have facilitated the adoption of remote and hybrid work patterns, which has created a significant challenge for traditional offices. Many workplaces have become quieter as more companies experiment with return-to-office or hybrid work policies. While leaders have begun to enforce a more regular return to the offices. However, they see that attendance patterns have become unstable; this means that offices may be crowded on certain days and empty on others.
The spread of hybrid work has completely changed the way we work, including where and when. We now have greater flexibility to balance work and personal life, but this change has come with new challenges. Now, we, Almsrya Furniture team, have noticed a similar pattern through our analysis of the work style of some of our clients.
The spread of hybrid work has completely changed the way we work, including where and when. We now have greater flexibility to balance work and personal life, but this change has come with new challenges. Now, we, Almsrya Furniture team, have noticed a similar pattern through our analysis of the work style of some of our clients.
There are key reasons why people prefer to have video calls from their desks:
A study conducted by the Microsoft team revealed a new pattern called "the triple-peak day," where workers have become more active multiple times, especially before and after lunch, and even in the evening. In fact, data showed a 42% increase in conversations that start in the evening via Microsoft Teams. This is what we have observed at Almsrya Furniture by monitoring our employees in the company over the recent period.
New work patterns require new workspaces. While interaction through video may save time, it can negatively impact performance and employee well-being. According to Microsoft research, it was found that employees are often busy with emails during virtual meetings for at least 30% of the time, which perhaps corresponds to our community and small to medium-sized companies in Egypt being preoccupied with work-related WhatsApp messages, indicating a lack of attention or actual interaction. Additionally, employees who hold video calls from their offices may distract their nearby colleagues.
According to our research, employees around the world desire work environments that support their mental and physical well-being, especially with the increasing reliance on screens at work. The most important things they want are:
Data and research indicate that companies are starting to focus more on privacy solutions in offices while improving access to electricity in social and collaborative spaces. However, employees still feel that there is a lack of spaces that support effective virtual collaboration, such as rooms equipped with user-friendly technology that provide excellent experiences for participants whether they are in the room or remote.
