The 2020 Pandemic has thrown the office workplace into disarray. We all know by now the impact it had on in-office work and the overall success in acclimated to the work from home life. More so, there is significant anecdotal and empirical evidence proving, although sometimes begrudgingly, that teams can be productive in a WFH scenario. However, all good things must come to an end, and as we crawl out of this pandemic into a sense of normalcy, it is abundantly clear that a hybrid workplace will be the expectation, and not necessarily a perk, in the workplace of the future. Below we highlight some steps to take as you flex your office space to address the growing expectation of a hybrid office environment.
First things First
Make sure you understand your HR, facilities, or management policy as it relates go forward workforce plan, specifically the impact to the layout. This is important because it will address the needs and motivations, as well as get insight into what the key stakeholders expect out of this plan. Critical to this is internal surveys and understanding the ensuing policy. Is the WFH policy two days a week, or three? And does it apply to all business functions, or are some exempt? This understanding and respective data is critical when feeding the design elements of your updated workplace.
Understand the hybrid workplace of the future
If need be, seek out your vendor for design options to understand what the latest and greatest in furniture, apparatus and technology are? Will we continue to see the propagation of open layouts? Probably not due to several factors, but a partial open layout may be part of the plan, with the ability for live and remote teams required to connect in real time. How will your layout be conducive to this new normal?
Tap into the latest data and needs surrounding what the office of the future looks like, and how it promotes employee wellbeing. With Covid completely altering the work at home vs. workplace debate, more and more workers are looking to have even a more integrated approach to managing life with work priorities, framed out by how the workplace of the future allows for that integration.
Brace for impact
Don’t expect perfection the first week back into the office. The return, powered by the complexity of schedules, will have a slow and steady adjustment curve. The workplace may take much longer than anticipated. Its also possible the layout you choose may need some tweaking. Make sure you have a strong facilities partner and vendor that has the experience to not only act, but provide insight and expertise, specifically in this type of office environment.
Now for the real work to begin
With all these updates and changes, there is bound to be some physical impact to your office space. Expect cubicle layouts and the types of furniture and equipment to change. Perhaps relocation to a smaller space is a necessity or complete decommissioning of your antiquated high wall cubes is in order, in favor of more collaborative inducing and tech friendly furnishings is necessary. There are a significant amount of options out there, and they are not all equal. Best to find a strong, experienced partner that can support you through this workplace evolution.
Olympia has been a leader in the commercial space, with extensive experience and knowledge in many commercial moving services including, installation, decommission, office moving, facilities maintenance and much more. Give us a call, and speak to one of our seasoned representatives for a free site consultation/estimate at 800-222-4744.