It’s been an uncertain 12 months for offices. Some workers returned to the office on a hybrid working model, but many were sent back to work from home in December following the government’s Plan B guidance to ‘work from home if possible’.
So when your company does return to the office, how can you restructure it to change your workplace for the better? There are some positives we can take from the pandemic and changed ways of working to improve your office space for employees return.
Giving Employees Continued Flexibility
85% of adults working from home were reported to want a ‘hybrid’ approach of both home and office working in the future (Office for National Statistics). Companies have listened to this, giving employees continued flexibility between working in the office and from home. At Glenside, we have helped companies adapt their offices to allow for employees to move seamlessly between home working and office working, which includes plug and play workspaces, virtual meeting room booking systems, and even virtual desk booking.
Increased Focus Space
In the office, a ‘Have you got a minute?’ A quick chat could easily lead to a full 30-minute conversion, but working from home cut out this distraction. Time is precious, and many people find working from home to have fewer distractions, giving employees more time to get work done.
A common mistake we have seen is that workplaces have made the transition to
agile working, but have not taken the time to add increased private working areas. By adding
booths, focus pods and quiet zones, as well as areas for private calls, employees have space to focus, get their heads down and get their work done. Collaboration and breakout zones should also be included but should be kept separate from private work areas to cater to different working styles.
Keeping the Office Safe
Covid-19 has made everyone more conscious of health and cleanliness in everyday life. Take this as a positive and continue this practice in the workplace. Whether it’s increased deep cleans of the office, installation of air ventilation systems, or reorganising your office to create extra space between workstations, providing a safe environment for your employees can do wonders for making them feel more comfortable in the office.
Virtual Connectivity
The way we connect to employees and colleagues has changed, and virtual connections are here to stay. Numerous studies investigating the top workplace complaints have found that unwanted noise and lack of privacy are among the top complaints by employees. However, while multiple employees on video calls simultaneously may once have sounded like a logistical nightmare, new spatial and technical equipment will improve office acoustics.
For a pharmaceutical company in Oxfordshire, we created areas for desk work and private calls, as well as separate collaboration areas. We assessed the acoustics of the office and added specialist acoustic products to increase privacy and quality of working and conferencing environments.
If you want to find out how you can create a positive environment to bring your employees back to the workplace, get in touch today.
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