Bad Workplace Trends Gone After COVID

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Cultura Creative

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Ground Picture

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / panitanphoto

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Zamrznuti tonovi

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Wisiel

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / fizkes

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / NONGASIMO

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / fizkes

Lunch breaks should be just that — a break! The sad desk lunch should go the way of the dinosaur.

9. Token Team-Building Activities

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Gorodenkoff

Forced fun isn’t fun. Real team bonding doesn’t have to involve trust falls or sharing circles.

10. Annual Reviews

Image Credit: Shutterstock / PeopleImages.com – Yuri A

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Vitali Michkou

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / stockphoto for you

Quantity over quality — why do offices always skimp on good coffee? If we must return, let it be to an upgraded brew or a small ask to endure the morning commute.

13. The Open Office Concept

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Monkey Business Images

A breeding ground for distractions and eavesdropping. How about we don’t return to the noise and lack of privacy?

14. Redundant Technology

Image Credit: Shutterstock / bunny pixar

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / zEdward_Indy

If we learned anything, it’s that most training can happen online at our own pace. Let’s save money and time on travel.

16. Workplace Gossip

Image Credit: Shutterstock / fizkes

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / fizkes

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / jdwfoto

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

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Roman Samborskyi

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?

Image Credit: Shutterstock / metamorworks

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?

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / nsta_photos.

For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.

Leave a Comment