As we anticipate the end of the pandemic, forward thinking businesses have started assessing the future of their offices. With many considering a home / life working model, you may not realise the concept already exists: hybrid working.
What is Hybrid Working?
The relatively new concept is a dynamic work model that incorporates a blend of remote and office based work. As companies adopt this new mode of working, they will need to give their staff trust and autonomy to decide where and how they work, using commercial design to ensure this is achievable for them.
Despite the pandemic leaving our offices to go cold, the Office for National Statistics reported that 85% of staff working from home want to get back in the office at least some of the time and adopt a hybrid approach going forward.
We’ve outlined some of the key benefits of the hybrid workplace to help your office smooth over the gap between different methods of work:
1) Company Culture
For many, the thing we’ve missed most about the office is the need to socialise.
Whilst most of us have mastered video calls, nothing quite beats the face-to-face conversations that inspire collaboration and builds trust amongst coworkers. It’s these spur of the moment discussions and the ability to accurately perceive body language that creates personal touches and understanding that a laptop camera just can’t capture.
We have little control over these impromptu moments, but your office design can encourage them with dynamic breakout areas and flexible workspaces where different departments can collaborate. Regular interactions between teams can nurture a powerful and unique company culture that we may have lost sight of during the pandemic.
2) Wellbeing
Having the opportunity to socialise with our peers in the office can drastically improve wellbeing at work. Using an office design that encourages natural conversation can also help to reduce stress levels amongst your team as they are able to discuss any concerns or take a refreshing break away from their screens. What’s more, adapting to a hybrid method of work can be stimulating for the mind and motivate staff – after all, it’s nice to have a change of scenery.
With a heavy push from the pandemic, office trends have also been shifting towards a resimmercial style. This office trend places comfort at its forefront by taking the best parts of working from home and lending it to the workplace. The idea of resimmercial takes all the comforts from home and integrates them into the workspace, with benefits such as enhanced acoustics and ergonomic furniture (hands up if your back is sore from working on the sofa for the last 18 months).
3) Learning Opportunities
Perhaps most importantly, our offices offer many opportunities to learn. From talking to other departments to a conversation with a colleague on the next desk along, we are constantly learning from our peers.
Being in the office is especially important for new employees and juniors. These individuals will always learn best from their mentors in person, with communication not being as clear when permanently working remotely. Any simple procedures, questions or issues that pop up are easily solved with quick conversations, whereas at home they might get dismissed as unimportant.
4) Flexibility
At the heart of the hybrid workplace is flexibility. With undeniable benefits for both remote and in-office working, forward thinking businesses will need to reimagine their workspaces to ensure staff are able to do both, successfully.
The office will need to ensure staff from all cultures and backgrounds are supported, no matter how they choose to work. It’s also important that your office refit improves communication between staff in the office and working remotely, using the correct technology, acoustic solutions and space planning.
Here’s an example floorplan of a recent hybrid office space that’s intended for only 30 people. This illustrates just how flexible they intend their space to be.
How We Can Help
If you’re looking to adapt a hybrid style of working in your office, we deliver high quality interior solutions bespoke to your space. With vast industry experience, we pride ourselves on delivering fit out projects on time, on budget and with little disruption to your workplace.
For more information, get in touch with our team today.
