A Word Of Caution

A word of caution.

No matter where you look, there are a multitude of online posts, whitepapers and general press coverage outlining the future of the post Covid-19 work environment. I would like to offer a word of caution to all the knee jerk reactions and prophecies being churned out by every man and his dog. That word is, may. Its fine to offer an opinion but don’t dress up speculation as a definite outcome. Its not, will be this, will be that, it is may be. The simple truth is, we just don’t know.

We can speculate, procrastinate and cogitate all we want. Until a return is sanctioned and the parameters around it are known, every man and his dog could well be barking up the wrong tree. We might as well just be writing the equivalent of a workplace science fiction novel. Call it ‘Space the final frontier’, (although I’ve heard that somewhere before and before all you Trekkies get up in arms and set your otherworldly 3 headed dogs on me, I know, I know). We could describe a work environment where we wear spacesuits, commute via personal jetpack and communicate with nothing more than the power of thought.

Whilst I would love to zoom about on my own jetpack or practice telekinesis, the workplace and a safe return is going to be driven by the medical advice at the time. Yes, there are a number of issues that were issues pre isolation that could and should be investigated and resolved. And there are some best practice scenarios that should be explored. But talk of a new workplace dawn is seriously premature. While we are at it, can we think of another title other than the ‘New Norm’? Norm, just conjures up visions of formulaic beige sameness.

A few years back, Donald Rumsfeld, the then US Secretary of Defence was unfairly mocked for his attempt to explain a situation. He broke it down into 3 easily understood categories. The same 3 categories that I believe best sum up where the post Covid-19 workplace thought process really sits.

01 The known knowns (These things we know we know)

• Generally, businesses occupy too much space. Therefore there’s scope to accommodate a different workplace protocol.

• Social distancing. (I prefer the term personal space, or even personal space2M, or personal space6 for our imperial friends). Current workspace design and public transport won’t work without amendment and behavioural change if we need to maintain a specific personal no go zone.

• Better cleaning and sanitisation regimes are required everywhere not just the workplace.

• Landlords may need to review construction best practice to create safer cleaner and healthier environments. We may need spaces that are more flexible for quick adaptation and change.

02 The known unknowns (The things we know we don’t know)

• How long the pandemic will last.

• When or if a vaccine will be available.

• The time taken for economies to recover.

• The strength of desire for the workforce return in the short term.

03 The unknown unknowns (The things we don’t know we don’t know) 

These can only but be speculation and as an example;

• New technologies. A new tech of choice that changes the way we work or travel.

• Political changes. As fall out from consequences of the pandemic / economic sanctions / new leadership – new ideals.

• Law change. Restrictions on Movement, Gatherings, Trade, Earnings.

Please don’t stop offering thoughts and opinions. Its important to have constructive debate and discussion. Just be wary of making claims of definite outcomes. Both they and that one man’s dog may just come back and bite you on the you know what… and that’s a known known.

#covid-19 #coronavius #newnorm #knownknowns #knownunknowns #unknownunknowns #workplacefuture