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Prior to the onset of COVID-19, businesses started to notice a new trend emerging in the workplace. The stuffy, cubicle-laden offices with hard-nosed bosses immortalised by movies like Office Space were long gone; in their wake came open-plan offices with lounge areas and a more community-like feel amongst the staff.

Even then, the digitalisation of work and processes meant that many employees in a number of industries were able to be flexible with when and where they did their work. Modern companies started to do away with the “deadline” model of business and began promoting a “results-based” system. Catering to skilled Millennials and Gen Z workers entering the workforce, this new approach empowered all employees to work smarter rather than faster.

The future of work started to become a bit clearer for some industries: if employees could produce quality work outside the traditional office environment, did companies need an office at all?

The answer to this question arrived swiftly and abruptly when the spread of COVID-19 infections caused sweeping shutdowns. In order to survive, businesses and workers were forced to adapt to a fully remote working environment. Many are still working remotely without a hitch over one year later, with some even going remote indefinitely.

BANGKOK’S UNIQUE POSITION

During the height of the pandemic in Bangkok, most companies deployed remote-working procedures until the country eased lockdown restrictions in July 2020. At that time, infection rates were low and new cases almost non-existent, affording companies the opportunity to ask employees to return to the office and resume business as usual without a health or safety risk. The risks they overlooked, however, were the risks of wasting time, money and talent while the rest of the world pushed forward.

Both large and small companies in many western countries have already made a choice to continue remote working after the pandemic is officially over. For many, offering remote working to their employees was a no-brainer. Aside from the incredible savings on overhead costs, many companies are realising that they can attract and retain young, skilled workers by giving them the freedom to work how and where they work most efficiently.

Companies embracing the concept of a 24/7 work-play lifestyle, where work is results-based, and working location is undefined, have already embraced this new way of working. As a result, their employees are happier, and their work is better.

Bangkok-based companies can too take advantage of this work culture trend and start rethinking how they attract and retain talent. Since Thailand was, and continues to be, among the safest countries to be in during the pandemic, many skilled Thai and expat workers came to the Thai capital to find meaningful employment.

In addition, while Thailand grows as a regional hub for skilled workers in its growing tech industry, companies will need to adapt again and become desirable destinations for young, talented workers who will have their choice of where they want to work.

Shared office spaces in Bangkok are the solution to adapting to this new environment.

LEVERAGING COWORKING INFRASTRUCTURE

In Bangkok today, shared office space is found in nearly every major office complex. Smaller to medium-sized companies are utilising this space, electing to invest more in human capital than they are in overhead costs like office space rental. Human capital is perhaps the most important investment a growing company can make, and with an influx of skilled workers entering Thailand or graduating from university, companies would be wise to consider spending more on human capital.

Shared office spaces in Bangkok provide solutions for companies who want to pivot toward the future of work. Renting a studio office space in a shared office like JustCo is all a modern small- to-medium-sized company needs. JustCo provides 24-hour access to their shared office spaces in Bangkok, each complete with the full suite of business amenities such as printers, copiers, and high-speed internet. Employees who wish to work in an office environment can do so at their company’s JustCo office.

COVID-19 proved to the world that traditional office setups are no longer necessary to run a successful enterprise. Motivated workers are able to get work done efficiently regardless of their location, and businesses are able to thrive in the absence of face-to-face meetings.

Now that the world is hopefully approaching the end of COVID-19, Bangkok-based companies should look to optimise how they run post-pandemic. Renting office space in a shared office in Bangkok is an economical way to satisfy employee needs and save on overhead costs while still having access to an office when needed.

This is the future of work in Thailand. The sooner businesses adopt this, the better prepared they will be for growth opportunities and attracting the best candidates.

Interested to find out more? Book a tour with us today or enjoy a free trial here, https://www.justcoglobal.com/th/en/free-trial