While most organisations in China have returned to work, returning to the workplace has presented many organisations with novel challenges such as having to redesign the layout of their offices to allow for social distancing, or reviewing the use of common areas such as meeting rooms, receptions, kitchens and toilets. Going forward, offices may not be able to accommodate all employees at once while maintaining adequate social distancing, leading to a large number of professionals continuing to work remotely.

The COVID-19 crisis has ushered in a new era in the world of work that is impacting both jobseekers and hiring organisations.

Strategy and management are essential to leading a company through crisis; but at the heart of any organisation is its people, and organisations around the world have been celebrating the pivotal role that employees have played in tiding their company through unprecedented challenges.

While the worst of the COVID-19 outbreak seems to have been overcome in China, the crisis remains a global concern that is impacting the way people live and work. Additionally, social distancing measures have quickly become the new normal for both businesses and individuals, and many employees are still required to work from home for an extended period of time.

Hays, the leading recruiting expert, has launched a free online training portal designed to help employers and teams in China grow the skills they need to function effectively and thrive in the wake of COVID-19.

The global COVID-19 crisis has already transformed the world of work, with much of its impact still unfolding. As the situation continues to develop and the road to recovery is expected to be a long one, business leaders and professionals must adapt and be agile to the challenges that are presented to them on a daily basis, with valuable lessons to be learned along the way.

From a growing demand for live streamers to a boom in online education, digital healthcare, e-commerce and cloud infrastructure – the digital technology sector in China saw significant expansion earlier this year despite crisis conditions. While this has further strained the sector’s severely candidate short market, it has also created opportunities as more companies broaden their requirements to consider candidates from a variety of backgrounds.

As countries around the world continue in their battle against COVID-19 at varying stages, in China, the worst appears to have been overcome. Today, most of China’s businesses are gradually resuming operations, providing the world with an invaluable frame of reference as they prepare to return to work.

Even as most businesses in China have resumed normal operations, several countries around the world are moving to remote ways of working to battle the COVID-19 crisis. While employees may now be well acquainted with what this takes, working from home can also present challenges that are difficult to spot at times – such as feelings of isolation and loneliness.

While most businesses have resumed their normal operations, the current world of work in China is still operating more remotely than it ever has before. Remote working began as a crucial measure to maintain the health and safety of employees, but carries with it some obstacles that employers may find challenging. This includes work place culture, which is impacted when communication, collaboration, relationship building and accessibility becomes remote.