Light At The End Of The Tunnel: Reviewing A Tumultuous 2021

 2021 was an extremely turbulent years not only for the world of business but the entire globe in general. The unpredictable nature of the Covid-19 pandemic with its multiple variants, continued to disrupt the business process and put people's health at risk constantly. Despite the uncertain nature and unpredictable nature of Covid-19 humanity's progress was sufficient in the last few years to keep progressing regardless of its existence. 2021's crises were not enough to stop progress which people are at, both in sustainable living and business recovery.

But that doesn't mean that every path chosen was a the same outcome. Some consider going back to how things were prior to the outbreak an important move in the right direction, others believe it is an antiquated view of an environment that is moving forward.

The differences of opinion affect the society, which has a direct impact on employees, employers and all the rest for businesses. In addition, changes in the climate as well as political instability and international conflicts continue to pile up as if the pandemic wasn't enough of a headache.

2021, in summary is a chaotic year.

But, each event that took place has taught us lessons and hopes that will encourage entrepreneurs and others to move forward until 2022.

There's hope at the end of the tunnel, and the glimpse of hope will impact organizations looking to expand into the next calendar year.

Is it the Endemic?

A severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was a major threat to the world in 2020, and its consequences lasted into 2021. Over 6 million lives were lost, and nearly 500 million people affected at least once. It's about death significantly therefore it's not a surprise that the whole epidemic is the main focus of the year's story. While people thought they'd be heading back to everyday life with vaccinations, the virus spawned multiple variants that endanger people's lives.

For 2022, the Covid-19 threat is still present. There are still cases to be found and deaths as a result of the virus continue to occur every day. But, that doesn't mean that there is no progress. In the space of two years, we've learned how to deal with this virus with the pharmaceutical and medical industries leading the charge. Vaccines are a way to protect against the the serious manifestations of the disease. They make the death and illness of a person possible.

The keyword is manageable. Limiting the number of patients and the number of deaths can indicate that Covid-19 is on the journey towards becoming an endemic disease. In the words of Virginia Tech epidemiology professor Charlotte Baker, endemic means that the condition will continue to exist, but has become known enough to allow the pharmaceutical and medical sectors to treat. However, undocumented variants remain over our heads. The term endemic will be farther away when a different scenario, similar to the Omicron variant is discovered.

People are starting to learn how to manage the coronavirus that is ideal for companies. Businesses in a variety of developing nations are already returning to their pre-pandemic practices, although with some social distancing practices. The swift response and swift actions of countries like Denmark, Norway, and New Zealand led to removing any restrictions related to virus prevention. Things are looking good for many businesses, as 2022 is starting to look like the time for people to finally get back to work as well as conduct face-to face operations and retail. In 2022, getting employees back into the office is the most popular business trend.

The Road to Normalcy (Or At Least That's What We Ourself)

The offices are opening, welcoming employees back after almost 2 years working at home. However, it won't be the same as when it did two years ago. People lost their loved ones due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This means your employees know how deadly the virus could still be whenever they venture out in public. There's always things that make them feel uncomfortable every when they make the morning commute, remove their masks in the afternoon and meet with colleagues who might or may not have the virus. Therefore, there could be a variety of opinions regarding the return-to-office procedure.

The business must recognize that not all employees will be onboard with the idea. Their livelihood could be in danger even if they don't agree, however it is a small sacrifice compared to when workers have to put their health and safety daily at risk.

The Covid-19 pandemic altered the world for the better. Being aware that the coronavirus could remain with us for the next decade the future isn't possible to live the way we did in 2019. Knowing this, businesses should be prepared to empathize with their employees' needs.

2022 for businesses is all about improving the workplace as well as the company culture more employee-centric.

Empathy shouldn't be an individual trait that is merely a part of the personality and goes. It needs to be a required professional skill. Decisions made by businesses will impact the lives of employees, making your workforce an important factor to be considered. One area that it can profoundly impact your business is the return to office ordering. It may be beneficial to your business, but your employees may not have the same attitude like you. In the end, the year of 2021 showed us the consequences.

"The Power of the Workforce

Returning to work is the main indicator for businesses looking to get back to regular. However, the last two years gave people a more clarity about life that safety and health come first.

Unfortunately, going back to the office placed employees in crowded areas in areas where the risk of getting Covid-19 infection is highest. Security and stability within the workplace started to lock horns when it came to what should be the primary concern for employees. In the end, it was clear who won when a phenomenon called the Great Resignation occurred.

Workers from all over the world have discovered the benefits of the work-from-home setup. After two years of experiencing that arrangement of work, it can be difficult to spend time on the morning commute, and spend money on gas, and let go of a convenient work schedule with little supervision. The number of resignations from work reached record amounts, with the figures of the final ten months of 2021 surpassing the top 10 spots in 2001.

Many reasons can prompt people to quit their jobs in 2021. It isn't to suggest that they are leaving behind their careers. Yet, most of their motivations have directly or indirectly to do with the continuing Covid-19 pandemic.

Many people will realize that life is short not to chase business goals. Some may find it more convenient to let their partners work while they take care of household chores. But, the vast majority of employees who resigned were simply looking for new career opportunities that matched their needs in regards to security and health. There are still people who need jobs to stay afloat in a dangerous world, and are looking for employers that provide better service and care than previous employers.

The Great Resignation impacts the employee turnover rates of a company which is a crucial metric to measure business expansion and continuity. Businesses needed to change their strategies to accommodate the needs of their employees, and take employee-centric measures even further. Unfortunately, the Great Resignation may already have caused a ripple effect on your business. The way to proceed shifts from retention of employees to mass recruitment in this circumstance. There is no better time to accomplish this than in the current digital age.

Digital Dominance

2021 is likely to be full of negative surprises, however there was an upside. Businesses had to endure an outbreak that forced employees to leave commercial premises and even home offices. Consumers also preferred staying at home than risking their lives to buy products or services. In the end, everyone needed to be a part of the digital world. However, what was meant to be a temporary option was the new norm for business operations.

The Covid-19 pandemic as well as the Great Resignation are pointing to digital transformation as the must-complete phase for businesses by 2022. Based on PTC, 70% of companies worldwide are either taking on digitalization strategies or are planning to create one. It allows businesses to stay connected to customers and employees despite the limitations of the new normal. It's also a crucial solution to stop the Covid-19 pandemic and The Great Resignation from doing more harm. Digitalization has also enabled businesses to go for a completely remote work environment which resulted in companies reimagining work for the future.

Businesses should explore digital transformation by 2022, as it opens the door to infinite possibilities. Some of these opportunities include business solutions that help organizations in overcoming 2021's massive challenges in business. Offshoring is a vital business solution that helps to address the issue of shortages in staff, offering a great solution to the Great Resignation. Furthermore, it was one of the companies' saviors in the midst of layoffs that were commonplace during the last two years's pandemic changes. However, offshoring's best value proposition is its ability to provide top offshore talent at an affordable price, allowing companies to invest funds and resources towards an efficient digital transformation.