The pandemic has changed employers' opinion on remote work, but Glassdoor Chief Economist Andrew Chamberlain predicts remote work will not rise above 20% of the workforce in the long run. He also predicts the jobs recovery will last up to a year and a half because, with 30 to 40 million people unemployed, competition for jobs will be high.
Demand for technical skills remains high, but employers want tech workers who also have communications skills. "As digital agendas advance, there increasingly will be a need for those who can train their colleagues on new tools, drive organization-wide adoption of new technologies, and effectively translate technical initiatives into business terms," writes Steven Norton of Metis Strategy.
If you really need a break from work but are worried you won't seem dedicated to your job, try making a list of the reasons why not taking time off is detrimental to both you and your work group, suggests management consultant Jordana Valencia. This will help you demonstrate to your manager that time off is beneficial to you and your company.
Pay attention to nonverbal gestures during remote meetings to detect signs of disengagement, such as slouching or yawning, writes executive coach Jeff Wolf. Conversely, gestures such as nodding your head and smiling can demonstrate your interest, as can making consistent eye contact while speaking, he writes.
The coronavirus pandemic has led to a silver lining of allowing employers the opportunity to demonstrate empathy and heartfelt communication with employees -- boosting engagement and resiliency -- according to a study of organizations with 1,000 or more employees by the Institute for Corporate Productivity. That survey found 75% of the hundreds of companies who responded said the pandemic has positively affected the organizational culture.
Wellness travel -- which tallied 17% of global travel before the pandemic hit -- will settle into a new normal as people seek escape and stress relief as lockdowns end, SmartBrief Senior Travel Editor Angie Giroux writes. Nature retreats with amenities such as forest spas, hiking and meditation experiences will be among the popular options, she says.
Desperate for revenue in an industry ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic, airlines might soon look to offer subscription services to lure travelers back to the skies. The few airlines that offered subscriptions before the pandemic hit experienced some turbulence, but that might not be enough to deter more airlines from trying such services.