The following is referencing an original article posted by Work Design Magazine (“The Hybrid Post-Pandemic Workplace: Preparing The Workforce for Change”)
Mumblings of the “death of the office” have crept across magazine pages and throughout boardroom meetings. But has the office died? We say no. However, has the office that we’ve known changed? Absolutely.
In order to stay relevant and meet the needs of our employees, dusty, old rooms with outdated desks and chairs will no longer cut it. Rows of desks for employees to sit isolated away fail to create a space that invites people to leave their homes.
With many jobs offering more flexibility, employee expectations for the office have changed.
Company property should feel like an exciting place to be – fostering community, productivity, and well-being. Of course, social distancing and safety protocols are important and must be the center of design but understanding how the office space will be used is vital.
As the Work Design Magazine articles puts it, we must “support the hybrid workforce”. This means a few things.
- Home offices must be invested in so they are conducive to full workdays.
- In-office spaces must easily connect to virtual employees for meetings and quick chats.
- Collaboration and co-working are the focus of commuting to work.
- Training for smooth transition to online work should take precedence.
As you embark on creating the new normal to your office buildings, consider dividing your spaces. One section will be home to a versatile area with portable furniture, another will be for meetings with small groups, and the last will be private pods for focused work. “Choice will dominate the space.”
Assigned desks and permanent personal spaces may lose ground as people choose only a few days a week to physically go to work, and companies can save money by offering smaller but more useful spaces.
People and their various personalities will approach working from home differently, with some employees possibly dominating and others falling behind if not supported accurately. But as long as companies invest a little time, money, and effort into a hybrid work environment, more success and the right employees will follow.
If you’re looking to re-design your spaces or support your remote employees, check out our product offering at https://theagilitycompany.com/products/. Our team is ready to your support you as you support your employees wherever they work best.