How to (Actually) Go Hybrid: Implementing a Hybrid Workplace Policy
The hybrid debate?
Amidst the ongoing debate about the best work-from-home policies, a flexible hybrid approach looks like the winner. However, the challenge lies in execution. Organizations must answer tough questions about the purpose of physical spaces, coordination, and maintaining work culture.
Collecting occupancy data?
Making informed decisions requires consistent and reliable data from multiple sources. Relying solely on surveys or utilization metrics falls short. A comprehensive approach includes:
Combining and normalizing these data sources provides a complete picture of office usage.
Understanding occupancy data (the why)?
Determining why employees use or avoid certain spaces is crucial. Surveys add context to the quantitative data, revealing insights such as comfort or preference for specific work areas. A client example showed that collecting by data over six weeks on occupancy, comfort, experience, and energy consumption before taking any action. They could make better decisions to imrpove efficiency and experience.
How to have a flexible office space
Flexibility in office design can be achieved through innovations like power over Ethernet (PoE). This allows for dynamic changes in floor plans to accommodate events or varying daily needs. PoE advancements facilitate the installation of devices, lighting, and more with ease, making it cheaper and more controllable than traditional AC power.
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Meeting rooms & desks
Most meetings involve 2-3 people, who want privacy, comfort, and availability. Key factors include climate control, air quality, good acoustics, and real-time occupancy workflows. For desks, it's more than just seating; employees need to know who's in that day and want to sit together. Most solutions do this manually, we do it automatically.
Workflow automation?
Automation reduces friction in daily operations. Good automation requires good data and context. This involves integrating systems to allow automatic adjustments based on occupancy. Automatically restrict people to one area before expanding out, allowing you to power down unused spaces. This saves on energy and maintains vibrancy because people aren't spread out so far that they feel isolated.
Downsizing your office space
Utilization alone doesn’t justify office downsizing. It’s like counting calories, does that calory have high nutritional value or is it just sugar? High-value spaces with low utilization can still serve crucial functions like a boardroom that lands big sales. Decisions on office space must consider the value each area brings, involving insights from HR, technology, sales, marketing, and real estate teams to align with organizational needs.
Conclusion
Implementing a hybrid work model requires a blend of reliable data, contextual insights, and flexible design. By understanding the unique needs of employees and dynamically adapting the workspace, organizations can create efficient, comfortable, and engaging office environments.