By Ashley Blas
On December 31, 2019 at 11:59 p.m., my
friends and I stood in front of Seattle’s Space Needle and started counting
down the seconds leading into the new year. We were all waiting to enjoy the
spectacular fireworks show at midnight but were seriously disappointed when it was
cancelled due to unsafe wind speeds. In retrospect, I think that was the first
bad omen foreseeing the year to come.
Nobody could have predicted all that happened in 2020. Sometimes
I can't even believe it myself. Luckily for us, the year is has come to a close,
and while there are plenty of things we will be leaving behind in 2020, here
are four things that we should bring forward into 2021 and beyond.
1. Embracing the virtual work environment
Earlier this year, businesses were forced
to quickly adapt to an all-virtual workplace. Many of us were tasked with creating
makeshift offices in our bedrooms, living rooms and even garages. Here I am at
my first job in a public relations firm and I too am working 3,000 miles away –
remotely. But by this time next year, we will all be on our long commutes back
to the physical office…or will we? My hope for 2021 and beyond is that
businesses will be more flexible with allowing their employees to work
virtually or with a hybrid workweek. For many people, including myself, working
virtually has been more beneficial and more productive than working in a
physical office. After this year, businesses will already have the technological
infrastructure to support a virtual workplace and it would be a shame to let
this opportunity go to waste. Allowing workers to choose a virtual or in-office
workplace takes into consideration employees' personal situations, creates more
worker autonomy, encourages a safer work environment and, in turn, produces a
higher level of productivity.
2. Thanking essential workers
From managing crowds of pandemic shoppers
to dealing with people refusing to wear masks, essential workers have risked
their health and the health and safety of their families in order to keep
shelves stocked, people fed and society running. When a COVID-19 vaccine is widely
distributed and we try our best to put this year behind us, we shouldn't forget
everything essential workers have done and will continue to do keep our society
functioning.
3. Embracing online interactive campaigns
Thanks to streaming
platforms like IG Live, Facebook Live and Twitch, businesses are more connected
to consumers than ever before. Online interactive campaigns are an effortless
way for businesses to connect with an audience real-time and encourage two-way
communication while promoting their brand’s products or messaging. For example,
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently held a live Twitch stream while playing the
popular game “Among Us” to encourage more young people to vote. These types of
campaigns were already gaining popularity among public relations and marketing
firms in an effort to attract younger audiences, but soon became the “go-to
solution” once in-person events were cancelled due to COVID-19. In the future,
I hope businesses will continue to use online interactive platforms in their
campaign plans because they not only promote open communication between a brand
and its consumers, but also encourage transparency and accountability within
the company.
4. Higher standard of cleanliness
With plastic shields and hand sanitizer at every cash register
in every store, public health and safety has never been taken more seriously. My
fourth hope for 2021 and beyond the pandemic is that individuals will continue
to wear masks if they are sick or have been exposed to someone who is sick. We've
all gotten that nervous feeling when we hear coughing in the store and that
feeling won't go away just because COVID-19 is gone. We also shouldn’t forget the
flu, for example, that comes and goes every fall and winter. As a society, we
should continue to practice healthy habits that reduce the exposure of sickness
to ourselves and others.
2020 will undoubtedly be a long and complex chapter in the
history books. But as the year comes to a close, now is the time to look back
at what we did (or didn't do), how we reacted and how we are going to change
for the better.
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