Did COVID-19 bring a work revolution?

Are we experiencing a work revolution because of COVID-19?

About one in four Americans are expected to be remote workers within the next five years, the BBC News reports.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many employers to send their workers home because of lockdowns and local restrictions. 

In some cases, employees have since returned to the office, in others, they get to stay remote or choose a hybrid option.

But are these choices here to stay?

 

How COVID-19 has changed what we wear

Are you still wearing jeans, blazers, or high heels? Work from home has changed the way we think about fashion. People are ditching uncomfortable clothes, to soft and comfy sweatpants.

2021 also witnessed a 5% drop in retail sales. 

Find out more about the new wave of, casualization.

 

How a Chinese restaurant in the U.S. has survived the pandemic

The restaurant industry has been one of the hardest-hit sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the United States, it was certainly evident in the San Francisco Bay Area, which was one of the first areas to go into shelter-in-place orders.

But now it has the lowest COVID infection rate in the country and many area restaurants have been allowed to re-open with 50 percent occupancy.

CGTN visits one of Chinatown’s largest establishments, China Live, to find out how it survived and how it’s looking toward the future.

 

See how nail and hair salons are reopening in California

Nail and hair salons were turned upside down when the COVID-19 pandemic first started in Los Angeles.

Unlike other businesses, they weren’t able to move their operations online. With the gradual reopening across California, people are getting more comfortable and optimistic.

CGTN’s Ediz Tiyansan headed to a local barbershop to see what’s changed and what hasn’t.

 

Baseball comes back for the summer

The pandemic shut down major league baseball in the U.S. for the better part of a year.

More than 1,500 games were canceled in the U.S. leading to billions of dollars in losses.

With almost 55 % of U.S. adults now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, baseball games are back.

For ushers and those who work at the concession stands, it means they have their summer jobs again.

 

U.S. housing market sees some improvements following the COVID-19 pandemic

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the American housing and real estate market took a major hit, slowing down for months due to restrictions and a recession.

“The shutdown not only impacted the real estate market, not just because people were moving, but the cost and expense and development of the homes and apartment buildings had also gone up,” Pej Barlavi, Owner and CEO of Barlavi Realty in New York City said.

Now, data shows some recent improvements in the market over the last five months.

“It wasn’t until February of this year that you started to see the return of materials, goods, permits,” Barlavi said.

However, individual homeowners and buyers are still facing some difficulty with the market, losing out to wealthier buyers from cities like New York or Los Angeles purchasing homes in states ranging from Florida to Tennessee – in cash.

Barlavi explains how the post-pandemic housing market looks now and what the market could look like in the future.