Covid-19 has fundamentally changed the way we travel, work, and socialise. And although we are past the first peak, it seems distancing measures are here to stay for the foreseeable future. As such, many office workers are opting for hybrid working to help reduce contact with others and remain as socially distant as possible. So what is hybrid working and what does this mean for your workspace?
What is Hybrid Working?
Hybrid working refers to workers splitting their time between their place of work and home office. This allows the employee the choice of where they would like to work and since Covid-19 has brought with it travel restrictions, this is becoming more and more popular.
Many businesses have shown that team members working from home are just as productive, if not more so, that when working in the office. Plus, the employees have found benefits such as saving time and money on commuting as well as boosted mental health.
In fact, a recent study has shown that 77% of employees in the UK say they prefer hybrid working. So what does this mean for your office space?
1. Investment in Technology is Crucial
Now more and more employees are working from home, it’s crucial to have a reliable online system for communication and organisation.
Video conferencing, presentation software, joint scheduling, and time management tools are all becoming even more important. If your employees don’t have an effective system to share projects, communicate and schedule their time, productivity is going to be seriously hampered.
2. The Purpose of Your Office May Evolve
Just because people are working from home doesn’t mean they no longer need their office space. Many roles and specific jobs cannot be carried out at home so there will always be times when employees need to come in and have a safe place to work.
However, if your office has many individual desks with very little space or room for collaboration, things will need to change.
Social distancing will need to be taken into account. Meaning spaced out desks, wider walkways and sanitisation stations throughout.
Plus, many employees will come into the office to work on joint projects, so more open, creative space for socially-distant meetings and group sessions may be required.
Installing partitions between work areas and individual desks will help define the space and give more functionality. As well as helping employees remain 2 metres apart while working in the office.
3. More Investment in Home Offices
If employees decide to work from home on a regular basis, their home office needs to be a creative, productive space that encourages a solid work ethic. If they don’t currently have a good workspace at home, it will be difficult for them to do their work to the same high standard.
Employees should be encouraged to design a home office space that works for them. You should stress the importance of ergonomic furniture to promote health and wellbeing. As well as discuss other important factors such as natural light, good ventilation, and safe storage for all documents.
Employers have the same responsibilities for their hybrid workers’ home offices as they do their normal ones. So if any employees need assistance creating a healthy work environment, this should be top priority.
The Offices of the Future
Although we are past the first peak of Covid-19, it has permanently changed the way we work. Hybrid working is now a fundamental part of work-life for many people and so designing office spaces that support employees is crucial.
