Multiple matching
You are going to read an extract. For questions 1-10, choose from the sections (A-E). The sections may be chosen more than once.
After the Zoom Boom: What Should Work Look Like Now?
Remote work and the future of the office
The Office Isn’t Dead—It’s Just Overconfident
Two years ago, our company announced—rather triumphantly—that the office was “back”. Desks were reallocated, meeting rooms were renamed, and there was even talk of a weekly “buzz day” to rebuild culture. I expected a revival; what I got was a strange kind of theatre. People came in, said hello loudly, then spent the day on video calls with colleagues sitting three metres away. The irony wasn’t lost on anyone, but management insisted it was about “serendipity”, as if creativity appears on schedule at 10:30 near the coffee machine. I’m not anti-office: I’ve seen junior staff learn faster when they can overhear real decisions. Still, the blanket return felt like a nostalgic reflex rather than a plan. The biggest surprise was how quickly commuting drained people’s goodwill. Even those who like being around others became noticeably less patient by Thursday.
Which section describes a return to the workplace that felt more like a performance than a genuinely productive change?
Which section mentions that travelling to and from work quickly reduced employees’ patience and positivity?
Which section expresses doubt that working from home keeps everyone equally engaged, suggesting some people fade from view?
Which section highlights how the same working arrangement can be experienced very differently depending on people’s living conditions?
Which section argues that a poorly organised middle option can create greater problems than choosing either fully remote or fully office-based work?
Which section describes decision-making shifting towards those physically present, even if people claim everyone is included?
Which section suggests that managers may push for office attendance because it feels easier to monitor, even if that doesn’t reflect real contribution?
In which section does the writer contrast spending money on physical workspace changes with neglecting more fundamental organisational habits?
Which section expresses a mixed reaction to the claim that the office is essential for culture—agreeing in part but also showing irritation?
Which section implies that bringing people together in person won’t automatically improve a team, and may even amplify existing problems?
0 of 10 answered