As the world grapples with the new normal of remote work, the relevance of traditional office spaces is being questioned. Let's delve into the original purpose of the office and explore whether it still holds significance in today's digital era.
Remote work is both possible and profitable
A survey of close to a million US workers at Fortune 500 companies showed that productivity remained stable or increased after employees began working remotely.
- In short, workers have proved that remote work is possible & profitable. Now, what is the office really for & is it possible to make employees want to be there?
- Physical office space can serve several functions, even if people are still getting work done from home
LendingTree’s newly renovated office
The company’s new office in North Carolina is a “resi-mercial” blend to create a new type of environment for returning workers
- 550 people are expected to return after a year of remote work
- Over half are ready to come back now
Collaboration happens naturally when people are together
There will always be a benefit to sharing physical space with colleagues
- The way we design and use office space will need to shift to complement, rather than offer an alternative to, remote work
- That may come in the form of hybrid models that give people the flexibility to work wherever they’re most productive
What exactly those people missed about the office
Socializing
- The office provides a distraction-free environment a home workspace may not
- Being able to leave the office is an important mental break
- Plenty of people just don’t like to work from home, or have housing situations that make it difficult
- There’s room for allowing some people, who are more comfortable for whatever reason in a space that is not their home, to work in other places like a co-working space or an office
In 15 years’ time, we may do most of our work alone behind our screens
But no matter how digitally dependent the future is, we’re still social creatures, and a physical office – in some form – still serves a purpose
- “You can’t do everything virtually. People need people.”
Demand for office space is up 43% since the pandemic
Firms are moving to a “hub and spoke” model
- Multiple small satellite offices available to employees, and one streamlined, central office serving as the company’s headquarters
- The purpose of an office is still to give a company identity
- It’s a place with their name over the door
The open office will likely be over
Workers need more diverse spaces to work on their own, both for their health and productivity
- And despite a newfound deftness for using online collaboration tools, for people working together toward a common goal, spending time in the same physical location is likely as invaluable as ever
