The Office - Back to the Future (Part 4)

Work from home guidance has lifted (again!)- hooray, I hear some say! But what does this mean for the future of working from the office??

Since the beginning of the pandemic, businesses have been asking this very question. Many have invested in new technologies and adjusted working patterns enabling employees to work from home or abroad. Yet even before the pandemic, technology has been quietly shaping how businesses operate. Although the term hybrid working was relatively new, it was steadily gathering pace. It wasn't until Governments enforced lockdowns, that technologies like Zoom forced the issue to the forefront of people minds.

Are these hybrid ways of working irreversible? Probably not, and some would argue they don't wish to return to the traditional 9-5 working practices made mainstream by Henry Ford in the 1920s. Is this the end of the humble office? In this article, I’ll try to explain why there is another chapter yet to be discovered and written.

Before reading further, I thought it best be known whilst offering impartial advice, I have a vested interest in helping people find commercial Workspace. I have been in the industry, helping people find and fit-out of space since 2017. My opinions are my own and based on personal experience of talking with hundreds of office managers and C-level executives across London over the past five years.

Embracing Change

As we look to the future, it would be wise to look back to what lessons can we learn from the past??

Since the introduction of the internet, we’ve seen a shift from physical mail to online forms of communication, initially email followed by the rise of social media, and now the metaverse.

Roll forward to 2022 and the introduction of the four-day working week, businesses continue to embrace technology, aiding the shorter four-day working week being amended into employment contracts, along with updated work-from-home policies.?

It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change?- Charles Darwin, 1809.

The benefits of hybrid working don't come without its challenges. Companies have struggled with how to preserve company culture, attract and retain staff. Challenges that existed beforehand, yet have been refreshed, leaving HR departments to find new ways to maintain employee collaboration and performance.

The Great Resignation

During the pandemic, many employees and employers have been forced to look at how they conduct themselves. A recent survey by Deloitte highlighted 55% of employees were considered quitting if their company tried to force and return to the office.

Fuelled by employees' desire to work from home or find an employer more willing to accommodate such job conditions, employees continue to review their employment options feeling their path lie elsewhere, cue 'The Great Resignation'. As a result, companies have changed their HR policies and business practices, helping them to retain and attract new talented employees.

Getting Back to the Office

Now we seem to be coming to the end of the pandemic (or at least learning to live with the virus), working practices have changed permanently. It would be foolish to ignore that many businesses have switched to a permanent hybrid or work-from-home hybrid model, however, the workplace is evolving, and business continues regardless.

Is it time to go back to the future of the office? Only time will tell, but should it help form a part of your workplace strategy, I'm keen to help source, give insight and compare the market for you.?

Interested in a small or large serviced office in London, give me a call.

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