As we all stumbled through the pandemic, desperately clutching our coffee mugs and Zoom etiquette guides, it became glaringly obvious that some of our workplace practices should be left in the past where they belong. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and reflect on the 19 workplace practices we hope to never see again.
1. The Daily Commute
Ah, the daily ritual of spending hours in traffic just to sit at a desk that looks suspiciously like the one you have at home. Here’s hoping the daily grind can stay virtual and spare us the road rage.
2. Micromanaging
Nothing says “I trust you” less than a manager peering over your shoulder, virtually or otherwise. With remote work, let’s wish for a future where results speak louder than log-in times.
3. Strict 9-to-5 Schedules
Who decided that peak productivity happens between these hours only? Post-pandemic life could do without the archaic time constraints that ignore our internal clocks.
4. Useless Meetings
Meetings that could have been an email are the bane of any employee’s existence. Fewer, more meaningful meetings should be the new norm, not an exception.
5. Dress Codes
The business attire that collects dust in your closet shouldn’t dictate your job performance. May we continue to do excellent work in the comfort of our sweatpants.
6. Shared Workspaces
Hot-desking was once hailed as the future. Now, it’s just a way to share germs. A personal, sanitized workspace sounds like a better idea, doesn’t it?
7. Printed Anything
Why kill trees when everything can be digital? Manuals, memos, forms — let’s keep them online and save a few forests while we’re at it.
8. Eating Lunch at Desks
Lunch breaks should be just that — a break! The sad desk lunch should go the way of the dinosaur.
9. Token Team-Building Activities
Forced fun isn’t fun. Real team bonding doesn’t have to involve trust falls or sharing circles.
10. Annual Reviews
The anxiety-inducing, often pointless annual review could be replaced by ongoing, constructive feedback. Let’s make the feedback loop less of a loop and more of a dialogue.
11. Limited Sick Days
The pandemic showed us the importance of staying home when sick. Moving forward, generous sick leave isn’t just a courtesy; it’s a public health policy.
12. Unlimited Coffee Without Quality
Quantity over quality — why do offices always skimp on good coffee? If we must return, let it be to an upgraded brew, a small ask for enduring the morning commute.
13. The Open Office Concept
A breeding ground for distractions and eavesdropping. How about we don’t return to the noise and lack of privacy?
14. Redundant Technology
The printer that jams without fail and the decade-old computers can stay in the past. It’s time for tech that doesn’t test our patience.
15. In-Person Only Training
If we learned anything, it’s that most training can happen online at our own pace. Let’s save the travel budget and the time.
16. Workplace Gossip
Less time in the office hopefully means less time for the rumour mill to churn. Can we agree to leave the drama behind?
17. The Five-Day Office Week
If we can do it in four days from home, why drag it out to five in the office? Here’s to hoping for more flexible work weeks.
18. Pointless Paperwork
The stacks of paperwork completed just for the sake of tradition need to end. Digital and streamlined is the way forward.
19. The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection
The pandemic taught us about human fragility and the need for grace. Let’s aim for excellence without the unrealistic expectation of perfection.
Will They Remain Relics?
As we look ahead, let’s collectively cross our fingers and hope that the worst of these practices stay buried in the pre-pandemic era. After all, if we’re going to drag ourselves back to the office, it might as well be a place we want to be, right?
The post Pandemic Lessons: 19 Workplace Practices We Hope to Never See Again first appeared on Lists Lovers.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Jacob Lund.
For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.