“Viewpoint” is a new series of opinion posts from WorkSync that spotlight our take on the big ideas affecting today’s workforce and businesses.

We’re a few weeks into fall, which means the kids are back at school … and many of the grown-ups are back at work. To be sure, the Delta variant has complicated things and scrambled many businesses’ plans, but there are still large numbers of employers and employees who are navigating some kind of return to work this season.

And what are they coming back to? The same old office? The same old facility? The same old factory? Odds are the answer is a resounding no.

There’s nothing “same old” about what lies ahead of us. A brave new world has arrived. The future of work is here.

What does the future of work look like, though? Does the idea really mean something, or is it just another buzzy catchphrase getting thrown around the internet?

At WorkSync, we think it means something. We think the future of work involves — more than anything else — getting rid of our outdated assumptions. Assumptions about what an office, a workplace, a business can be. It means opening our minds to new and innovative ways of running our organizations, supporting our people, and offering our products and services. Taking what we do to the next level.

This innovation can come in myriad forms. Flexible or hybrid work arrangements. Reconfigured workspaces. Agile mobile apps as an alternative to time clocks. Employee-centered scheduling. Phasing out inefficient manual systems. Giving workers instant access to their earned wages. Introducing wellness programs to support team members’ mental, physical, and even financial health. The list goes on.

The goal of all these measures, of course, isn’t simply change for change’s sake. It’s change for the sake of growth and improvement. With the ultimate aim of empowering and strengthening our workforce. Equipping them with the tools they need to thrive and excel — and, as a result, retaining the great people we most want to hold onto.

As challenging as the pandemic has been — and continues to be — there’s hope on the horizon for today’s employees. Hope that when they do come back to work, they’re coming back not to the “same old,” but to the future. A future in which business leaders take bold strides that make all our recent struggles seem worthwhile. A better future.

WorkSync offers leading workforce management solutions for your organization. Learn more and request a demo today at workSync.com.