Future work spaces are here – Here’s how you can adapt to the evolution

The majority of businesses have had to experiment with remote working due to the pandemic. We’ve seen how a considerable amount of work can be done equally as effectively at home as in the office. However, the pandemic has also highlighted the limitations of remote working. Additionally, although employees have been enjoying the benefits of working from home, that’s not to say they don’t still enjoy an office environment. In fact, according to a study conducted by KPMG last year, most Canadians want to return to the office, it’s just that around 3 in 4 are looking for a “hybrid” model that allows for some flexibility.

In achieving this flexible hybrid model, it is best to imagine your offices as the company anchor. It plays a vital role in operations but is part of a wider machines. If adapting to this new hybrid model, there are a few options for utilizing office space. You can downsize to a smaller space, you can keep everything the same and just have vacant spots when staff are not in, or you can create an office built for the future of workspaces.

Creating an office built for the future may sound like a big undertaking, but it is more straightforward than you might think. In order to design such a space, we must first decide what elements of different working environments we want to incorporate.?

Companies that will excel during this evolution of workspaces are those that look to incorporate each of these benefits into their office space. Achieving this can be broken down into four main areas.

1.???Community

Offices are no longer just a place for employees to sit at a desk, do their job and go home. Offices are where company cultures are formed, where collaboration births innovative ideas, where career development occurs from informal lessons and training.

View your office as a destination for coworkers to interact. Create a flow that has employees who might not typically work together, cross paths. This can be done by having common areas or printers in the center of the floor to entice “watercooler” conversations. It can be done through having screens throughout the office that showcases the work of a team, that celebrates individual accomplishments outside of work.?A lot of the social life of an office is organic but that doesn’t mean you can’t create opportunities for people bond. ?

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2.???Hotelization

One of the reasons people enjoy remote working is because it’s comfortable. Office spaces don’t have to feel commercial to still be considered a work environment. There are plenty of ways to import some of those home comforts into the work life. A relaxed dress code lets people feel comfortable throughout the day, bringing the outside in with the use of plants has been shown to improve mental well-being, soft furnishings and art décor can give the space a personality.??

When the office is an enjoyable environment to spend time in, suddenly it isn’t choosing between the comfort of home versus the clinical feel of an office. Instead, it’s a change of scenery and a way of adding some variety to the week, something that people naturally crave.

3.???Engineering for Well-being

Throughout the pandemic, our understanding of how germs spread has increased significantly and they are lessons that we will not be quick to forget. Fortunately, this understanding has equally come with lessons in how to better protect ourselves and those around us. Effective air ventilation, motionless sanitizers, automatic sinks, and soap dispensers are just a few examples of simple additions that can make a building significantly more hygienic.?

It isn’t just germs that we’ve become more conscious of though, our own personal health and well-being has also been a focus and will continue to do so. People are finding they are making healthier meals for lunch, sitting outside when it’s sunny and finishing the day with some fresh air. But these aren’t behaviours that have to be foregone while in the office. Additional equipment in the kitchen can allow employees to still get creative with their meals. Providing a weekly delivery of fresh fruit can allow them to make healthy snack choices. Provisions for secure bike parking or a simple shower area can turn their commute into an opportunity to remain active. Creating an appealing patio area, or if that’s not an option, simply advising on the closest park or an enjoyable walk to a local café can allow for more options.

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4.???Technology & Services

Almost every job has tasks that either can’t be done at home or can’t be done nearly as easily at home. Companies that have long offered hybrid work models often find that employees actively start to plan their weeks around what days they want to accomplish certain tasks because it requires a printer, or they want to practice run a presentation in front of team members or because there’s booths in the office specifically designed for making phone calls in peace and quiet.

It's not difficult to re-create an office space at home, but that doesn’t mean it’s always feasible. In particular in certain industries that require specialist equipment or for more junior staff members that might have less disposable income or be living in a smaller space. Ensuring your office space is equip with services that help productivity gives employees incentive for going into the office.

The great thing about designing an office space that will excel as work environments evolve is the customizability. You can go all in and completely retrofit a space that incorporates each aspect we’ve discussed. Or you can start smaller by changing the flow of the space or adding some technology to shift towards a hybrid model. At the end of the day, all you need to get started are four walls and a roof.?

At Reotech we specialize in interior commercial projects. We consistently keep up with industry trends and changes allowing us to create office spaces that meet client’s needs, provide for exceptional productivity, and match the company culture. Our team of experts are here to help if you ever decide to create your office space of the future. Get in touch anytime - https://reotech.ca/contact/