What to expect from the office post-lockdown

By: Cesilia Faustina

As more and more countries are easing their coronavirus lockdown, we are witnessing increasing number of offices opening again. Some implementing full precautionary work-from-office days, while others are still being extra careful by limiting the number of office days for employees. Either way, businesses are trying to get back to the office routine, however, this is easier said than done.

We surely cannot expect everyone to simply go back to their past lives right away, not only will it take time again, but coronavirus is still on the loose and companies still need to take precautionary actions.

Balancing spending during the pandemic

By: Cesilia Faustina

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy has been on thin ice all over the world. While some are adapting to online workspaces, some are greatly struggling with unemployment and the need to continue working despite the risks. It is clear that COVID-19 is showcasing some clear winners and losers in the industry spectrum.

Companies that focused on marketing products online are soaring compared to those who don’t. Other than that, digital communication tools like Zoom and online food delivery services are also increasing. According to data from Avalara, since the start of the pandemic there has been a decrease for items unnecessary to everyday life and there was a huge increase in survival, hobbies and home entertainment supplies.

Tips for unemployment and career change in uncertain times

By: Cesilia Faustina

Faced with uncertainty, many businesses are having to let go of employees, while others are shutting down; many people are at a cross path as to what to do about their futures. The rise of COVID-19 has made a huge gap in the economy, with many industries unable to operate and businesses coming to a halt. People that were looking for jobs are now having an even harder time, and those that have to halt their operations are looking for some career changes.

In America alone, 4.4 million people filed for unemployment insurance due to the coronavirus not too long ago, while other countries are also going through the same problems. S&P Global has also stated that job losses in the Asia Pacific could double to the virus.

How are Human Resources personnel coping with the Coronavirus situation?

By: Omar Abdul-Hafiz

Back in January, when the true magnitude of the coronavirus pandemic was still unclear, HR managers were merely concerned about how to protect staff as they came to the office or attended corporate events.  But as weeks unfolded, they found themselves racing against time to plan and implement a swift work-from-home transition to keep the flow of work from falling apart. So how have been the HR teams coping with the urgency of this whole situation?

Uncharted waters

The rapid unfolding of events has revealed that companies around the world are facing a challenge in adaptability unlike any other they faced before, and hardly anyone could have accounted for it at an early stage.

COVID-19: The new normal of education

By: Cesilia Faustina

Around the month of February, schools around the world started to shut down since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Most countries were in unison about the decision to stop gathering kids in a communal space, however, many were not sure about the impacts towards the education system.

As soon as the COVID-19 took place, it was obvious that closing schools was the right action, however, shutting education institutions is not something any country could afford to do on a prolonged basis. Courses eventually continued to be given through online conference calls and many education institutions are depending on the use of education software.

Working from home vs. working at the office: Which is better for your business?

By: Omar Abdul-Hafiz

The recent predicament with the outbreak of the coronavirus has created nothing short of an earthquake in the business landscape worldwide. One major aspect of this shockwave was the sudden urgent need to keep the flow of work going while still adhering to the safety measures necessary to counter the spread of the pandemic. And none of these efforts would have been effective without the option to switch to remote work as an urgent alternative to the traditional office-based model of work.

And if there’s one thing this has taught us, it’s that the current status quo that we have lived comfortably with for years can, and will, be disrupted in a matter of a few weeks. As such, working at an office became a no-option for a large number of enterprises around the world, and working from home became the one and only way to keep work going.

5 ways the Cloud is transforming the education sector

By: Cesilia Faustina

Schools and higher education have gone through many changes throughout the years. Now change is even more prominent with a new change of lifestyle. As years have passed, we have witnessed an increased rate of blended learning across various educational institutions, which have created greater demands for education technology.

This change, especially with the world going through lockdown, has led for the demand of online education and Cloud computing in the education sector. More than ever now, I think it is safe to say that the Cloud is something highly needed in the midst of the corona outbreak. Corona aside though, the Cloud has been a worthy tool way before online education became cool.