The Great Office Return: Cost of Living Impact on Irish Workplaces

As the cost of living takes a grip across the globe, Ireland isn’t escaping its brute force. The pandemic greatly changed the landscape of Irish workplaces, and after two years, most workers who have a choice have chosen to work hybrid or fully remote roles.?

But now this could change again, as people struggle to pay rising heating, electric and food costs. Whilst the desire to work from home is still very much alive, recent studies have found that many workers are returning to the office to save on household bills.?

But is your office spaces fit for purpose? And can your business afford more employees and more cost? Let’s delve into the impact cost of living is having on driving feet through the office doors once again, and how you can ensure your business can sustain a busy office.?

‘I thought they liked working from home…?’?

Covid-19 changed the face of the Irish office. For those who could, they worked from home, building their own home office set ups, and learning how to work autonomously within their own environments.?

Since the new ‘normal’ and restrictions have been lifted, much of this working from home has carried on, as Irish workers choose to work remotely or at least via a hybrid model of home working and office commutes to break the week up. A recent study by Indeed and OECD found that the share of remote job postings grew to 7.5% of all job postings by September 2021, with Ireland named as one of the highest grossing countries.?

However, things could be on the turn. After months of workers pleading to keep their working from home lifestyles, many could be forced to return to the office as the cost of living crisis deepens. In July 2022, the Central Statistics Office Consumer Price Index reported a staggering 9.1% price increase YOY, demonstrating the sheer jump in costs for household electric, heating and food bills. As these prices continue to rise, coupled with the dreaded cold snap of autumn and winter driving people to push up the thermostats, this could drive many workers to shut up their home offices and head back to the office to make use of your energy as a business.?

But is your office and your company financials prepared??

Cost of Living Office Return: Top Tips?

1. Employee wellbeing first?

Regardless of your viewpoint on the previous desire for remote work, or the possible return to the office, always put your employee wellbeing first.?

Money is one of the most common causes of stress and as the cost of living bites, your staff will likely be keeping an eye on their bank accounts, direct debit dates and their daily costs.?

It’s important to recognise that an office space could help ease these worries, keeping your employees’ wellbeing in check. Whilst being realistic as an organisation to what you can afford as you may increase a jump in office capacity and a jump in costs, your workers should always come first.?

2. Facilities are key?

Like many organisations across Ireland, your office spaces may have lay somewhat dormant for months, with odd floating employee who prefers office working. With the potential for more of your colleagues to begin using your office spaces more often, it’s important to work with your HR team to ensure facilities are fit for purpose.?

From putting in place a regular milk run, auditing tea/coffee making facilities, to ensuring you have enough working desks and monitors to facilitate growing numbers, this will ensure employees have a seamless integration back into the office and your company performance does not suffer as a result. Your employees are already stressed at the fact they may have to leave the familiarity of their home office environments - by working to make sure your office fit for purpose once again, this will ease this stress and worry.?

3. Keep an eye on financials?

Whilst your employees’ health and feelings are crucial to ensuring your business continues to operate successfully, your business financials are never far away. As more staff return to the office, this will drive up your costs - more monitors and electric units will be on 8+ hours a day, heating costs will be driven up as winter bites, and extra costs from increased tea/coffee. As the cost of living could deepen further this winter across Ireland, this could put your business at risk financially when it comes to maintaining office buildings that haven’t been used widely since the pandemic.?

Work with your HR and financial teams to understand the ongoing take up of the office facilities as we move into the autumn and winter. By regularly monitoring for a change in numbers, you can work with your financial team to understand the impact this could have on your accounts and ensure you have the correct financial capacity to continue to host any increasing staff numbers in the office.?

David Bell is CEO at The HR Department