What Can We Expect For The Future Of Office Occupancy?
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many companies to scramble, retrofitting buildings for a new reality of remote work and social distancing. But there are reasons to believe that the future office will recover from this crisis, and perhaps even thrive. Indeed, the office workplace has weathered crises in the past—from market crashes to terrorist attacks—and survived.
The question is not whether offices are going away, but what they may look like when workers start coming back after months of isolation at home.
The Ultimate Future Of Office Occupancy
Office occupancy is a sign of a vibrant economy. In the aftermath of the pandemic, companies are looking for ways to keep employees engaged and healthy.
They're also looking for ways to keep employees safe. The new office design trend is one that makes use of space in creative ways, with its emphasis on collaboration and mobility.
And it's not just about aesthetics; it's about how you can use your office space to make you feel better about coming to work every day.
Hot Questions Every Employer Is Asking
Will companies have to design offices for remote workers? Or can their existing buildings become more remote-friendly? It's a question that many office spaces are still struggling to answer.
For the first case, here's what you can do: make sure all of your employees have access to the same technology. This includes high-speed internet, computers and software—but also whatever it takes to turn an empty room into a home office- ergonomics and other furniture.
Or can your existing buildings become more remote-friendly?
If you’re an office worker, it’s likely that you work in a building that was built with the expectation that everyone would be there every day.
That doesn’t mean that your current office has to stay that way forever, though. Remote-friendly offices can be created in existing buildings and new buildings alike.
It comes down to two things: technology and teamwork. First, let's talk about how technology could transform your workspace into a remote-friendly environment. Use software collaboration tools like Slack or Zoom for all internal communications so everyone can see the same information simultaneously, even if they're not physically together at the same time—and even if you don't have anyone else working remotely just yet!
Install video conferencing equipment throughout the building so employees can interact with each other from anywhere. This will let people connect face-to-face more often than they do now.
Are there any things that are worth keeping from today's work-from-home guidelines?
Of course. The ability to set your own hours and dress code is good, as are flexible working environments and locations. These can be adapted for any office environment, whether it's a traditional one or not.
Flexible working conditions include quiet spaces for focused work or loud ones conducive to collaboration; the latter could be done in pairs or small groups but all within eyesight of one another.
And if you're feeling ambitious, try putting together a few new features that can only exist in a remote setting: an open floor plan where everyone has access to each other's screens at all times, or an honor system where people can leave their laptops unattended without fear of theft.
Creating Healthy, Productive Office Space That Your Employees Want To Work In
How do you create a healthy, productive office space that your employees want to work in again? The answer is simple: You provide them with the best possible working conditions. Yes, it's that simple. It's not always easy, but it's 100% worth it. Companies need to customize their workplace so that they can welcome back the people who make it work.
To create a workspace that works for you, you need to be able to make changes as your business grows. You also need to be able to adapt to the needs of different employees.
To make sure your workplace is flexible and can change with the times, set up your space so that it’s easy for everyone on staff—even those who aren’t there at any given moment—to contribute their ideas and opinions in real-time. This may mean using video conferencing software.
Or bringing in couches so people feel comfortable having meetings during their lunch breaks or after hours instead of just sitting around staring at each other during official meetings all day long.
One thing is for certain: the future of work will not be what it was before. As more companies explore new approaches to traditional office design and space allotment, we’ll see a growing variety of ways to experience the workplace.
We at Divine Innovation are working with our clients to design offices for a post-pandemic future that are healthy and productive and make your people want to come back to work! If this article has inspired you to think about how your company can adapt its culture and environment in response to changing times, then contact our team today to get started on designing something unique that suits everyone’s needs.