Office Changes: Elevating Working Experiences Post-pandemic
The experiences of professionals within their workspaces have been permanently altered by the global health crisis. In this light, it’s only necessary the world of work should likewise undergo drastic changes for the benefit of businesses and their employees. Offices of the future are expected to look far different from their pre-pandemic counterparts.
Office experiences prove to have significant effects on employee productivity and engagement. Consequently, this also genuinely affects a company’s bottom line. At the outbreak of the pandemic, the UK was forced to transition into remote working arrangements. Most entrepreneurs and professionals believed this would only last for several months, but it has already been more than a year since.
Post-pandemic Offices
The magnitude of the change that the global pandemic brought into effect is unparalleled, to say the least. As vaccination rollout programs continue throughout the country, a return to the workplace is slowly becoming more viable. However, countless professionals have voiced their concerns regarding this move back into traditional workspaces.
Now, many firms have begun to scramble in an effort to address the demands of their employees for their imminent return to the offices. Moreover, preparing these workspaces has also turned into quite a complex matter, especially with the rise of hybrid working becoming more common in the post-pandemic setting. Here are the workplace trends business leaders should be aware of as they plan on bringing daily business operations back into the office.
Green Thinking
Alongside the outbreak of the global pandemic, the past year was also defined by the growing need to prioritize the worsening climate crisis. In this regard, sustainability is currently being seen as a primary driving force in every daily activity but more importantly within the workplace.
A lot of professionals have become more conscious about their environmental footprint, and they hope to see these values reflected in the companies that they are working for. Hence, businesses should definitely consider investing in greener workspaces.
In order to guarantee sustainability, incorporating green solutions like transitioning to renewable energy is an obvious way forward. However, business leaders should also have their offices certified by trusted property assessors such as Prop Cert. Having this done will clearly establish their commitment to providing quality work experiences for their employees.
Flexible Spaces
In line with the growing demand for hybrid working arrangements, business leaders should also be able to address their employees’ need for flexibility. While remote working will undeniably persist in the post-pandemic setting, businesses should still have a central hub to operate out of.
After more than a year of working from home, there has been a split among professionals with regard to this type of arrangement. There were some who thrived in being able to work independently, while there were others who felt that it took a heavy toll on their mental and emotional well-being.
Business leaders should note two important elements when focusing on making workspaces more flexible: design and collaboration. In terms of design, spaces within the office should become multi-use to be able to support varied activities. This entails a shift from fixed architecture to movable furnishings. As for collaboration, focusing on offices that will cultivate a strong sense of community is a must.
Health Concerns
Prioritizing the overall health of employees should also be a primary point of interest in businesses. Understandably, a lot of professionals have gone through immense amounts of stress and anxiety coming from the context of the global health crisis.
Business leaders should guarantee that their office spaces are genuinely secure from the looming virus. This requires drastic adjustments from improving air quality to enforcing much more sophisticated safety protocols within the workplace.
The feeling of isolation was also a huge concern for employees when it came to remote working. However, it’s also important to note that not everyone will be keen on making extensive daily commutes just to work in the office. This is what prompted the rise of the “out-of-office” office. Businesses should consider investing in satellite co-working spaces that are located closer to the homes of their employees as well.
Back to Work
An observed demand for office spaces has increased significantly over the past few months, especially as the distribution of vaccines continues to offer the promise of a return to normalcy. Prominent workspace providers have noted an improvement in occupancy levels and interest from tenants as businesses anticipate their recovery from the global pandemic.
With the foreseen hybrid working arrangement taking into effect, the ultimate choice to return to the offices falls upon the professionals themselves. Businesses should certainly introduce some crucial changes for better experiences if they hope to bring their employees back into the workplace.
