The evolution of the office space has been a long time coming, but as we know, the pandemic has enforced a shift in the way we work. With the ease of lockdown and COVID-19 vaccine success, businesses are now debating when, how, and if, they will return to the office.
In the past we’ve seen a trend in the demise of old fashioned city offices with cubicles and walled offices dividing the ranks, to a more contemporary open planned space and agencies even adopted games rooms and bars. Over more recent years we’ve adopted tech, allowing us to work virtually and the pandemic has reinforced this way of working requiring us to debate the future of office space and its new form.
What will the future of office working look like?
According to a global study by global research from Steelcase, people have felt incredibly isolated working from home and we’ve realised the importance of human connection and socialisation.
The same study asked why people would like the option to work hybrid and the response was to have somewhere to work uninterrupted and the need for a quiet space. This has made business owners have to rethink their office model and start to think of the introduction of breakout areas where workers can concentrate.
Before the pandemic office space was all about functionality, city locations and success was measured on lengthy office hours! If this past year has taught us anything it’s that we all need a healthy work life balance and we all need flexibility and variety when it comes to our individual workspace needs. The traditional 9-5 row of desks set up is changing.
Whilst some workers productivity may increase in a bustling office, others need an escape and the option to use quiet breakout spaces to concentrate. Businesses need to cater for the individual and realise that every employee may have different needs and their productivity is likely to increase if offered suitable working environments. So, how do we meet those needs and how does this affect the future of workspaces?
Inverting the working week
Working from home forced businesses to trial tech and trust their employees and unsurprisingly productivity didn’t dip. According to the Adecco Group’s research the majority hope to find a 50/50 split between home and office. The reality is, that if businesses hope to attract and retain a productive and engaged workforce, they will need to rethink the future of the office and adopt flexibility.
As we return to some sort of normality this next generation workspace will undoubtedly become the new norm. After speaking with recruiters, it has become apparent that candidates are now negotiating how and where they work and this has opened up the possibility of businesses employing people from further a field and rethinking their set up to offer flexi working and hub space.
Will we say goodbye to 9-5’s?
Monday to Friday working may be a thing of the past and we may be introducing a less regimented office day schedule.
Reshaping office spaces to inspire employees
Businesses have a responsibility to their employees to listen to recent studies and notice the rise of mental health cases and provide their employees with better working environments. After all, there is a wealth of research to support that good employee wellbeing has a positive effect on the performance of a company. We’ve explored this theory in one of our most recent articles: Employers replace uninspiring office space with working hubs.
It’s clear that there is a need to rethink not only the way we work, but the space we work in and we all need to adopt change and realise that the way we work isn’t a one size fits all. Having flexibility and hybrid office space, a space you can go away and work by yourself in quiet breakout areas, a space that allows you to socialise and also to look after your own wellbeing. This mixture of working hubs and co-working spaces has to be the future of the office space.
The pandemic has proven that organisations can change, and we feel this change will have a positive impact on the success of both business owners and workers.
Our key takeaways
- The next generation will expect a new way of working
- Business owners are looking for more than just the 4 walls of an office but a destination with a variety of amenities
- Wellbeing is becoming of increasing importance to employees needs
Here at Burrough Court, we not only wish to provide office and meeting space with incredibly inspiring scenery, but also a place where businesses are able to bring wellbeing into their workplace with our no-membership-fee gym, a yoga and pilates studio, coffee shop and scenic walking meeting routes, so not every meeting has to be conducted inside an office.
If you’re looking for a new way of working that emphasises employee wellbeing and functionality, learn more about the way we work at Burrough Court.