This archive report was first published on 16 May 2020.
Published on May 16, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated a shift towards remote working, with many companies adopting flexible work arrangements that could redefine the future of office spaces.
Major financial districts, such as London's Canary Wharf and La Defense in Paris, remain eerily quiet, even as governments lift restrictions on social distancing and travel by public transport.
"The notion of putting 7,000 people in a building may be a thing of the past," said Jes Staley, chief executive of British bank Barclays.
French car giant PSA, which makes Peugeot and Citroen vehicles, has now made remote working a benchmark for tens of thousands of its office-based staff.
Twitter has also indicated that some of its employees could do their jobs from home on a permanent basis.
"The revolution is going to come with a mindset shift," said Cydney Roach, global chair of employee experience at US consultancy Edelman.
According to a recent survey by real estate consultancy Cushman & Wakefield, 89 percent of companies worldwide believe remote working will continue beyond the pandemic.
While some experts argue that remote working can lead to cost savings, better productivity, and improved recruitment and retention, others caution that it may also have negative effects, such as reduced wellbeing and loyalty to the organization.
