The Future of Teamwork: Facilitating Effective Team Performance in Virtual and Hybrid Work Environments in a Post-pandemic World

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated remote work for a large segment of the workforce. At the height of pandemic restrictions in the United States, almost 70% of full-time workers worked remotely either some or all of the time. That number had fallen to 45% by September of 2021, but remains significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels as many employers delay return-to-work deadlines or implement permanent remote work arrangements. As this trend drastically increases the amount of work that is conducted by distributed teams, organizations and workers can benefit from the implementation of employer interventions to facilitate effective team performance and individual wellbeing among remote workers. This paper presents recommendations based on extant literature, interviews conducted with health and safety professionals at large corporations, and surveys of labor force participants.