Today’s corporate and home office environments will remain dramatically changed in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. Are you seeing it in your work setting?
Expect a hybrid trend to continue. Employees will work up to a few days each week in the corporate setting and then put in the remaining hours each week at a home office or other remote location.
Savvy executives and office managers will plan and design their spaces so employees will be properly equipped at home and in the work setting.
Read on to see how you can create spaces that are productive and also meet expectations for workers and the company.
Why Employees Want to Work at Home
Surveys shows that office workers have a lot of practical reasons for working remotely at home or another location.
Reason 1: Plenty of quality furnishings are available for home offices like height adjustable desks, ergonomic chairs and accessories to create a professional setting.
Reason 2: They don’t face stressful commutes and they save money by not going to the office. You know the stories of what it’s like battling traffic every morning and late afternoons on freeways like the 405 through West LA and the 210 into Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley.
The people surveyed estimate that savings in gas and other personal expenses saves them up to $ 5,000 a year.
Reason 3: Concerns about Covid—and this comes in a distant third.
Photo: OFS Aptos Private Office
Here’s a breakdown from a survey of 2,000 adults that Flexjobs, an employment agency, did in April 2021:
- 84% of people didn’t want a daily commute
- 75% personally saved money
- 32% still had Covid concerns
- 26% enjoyed being closer to their pets and home responsibilities
- 15% said a home office made childcare easier
Another reason workers like their home office is they don’t have to wear face coverings. Physical distancing and mask requirements are easing up in California beginning mid-June. But according to updated guidelines from the state’s department of public health, masks are supposed to be worn in indoor settings:
“In indoor settings outside of one’s home, including public transportation, face coverings continue to be required regardless of vaccination status…”
Exceptions are made for people working alone in a closed room or office.
The on-going regulations may sway people to work from home.
What CEOs Want for the Corporate Office
Not surprisingly, CEOs and other executives surveyed wanted their people at corporate workstations, although they understood that workers got used to remote locations. In a survey conducted by Price Waterhouse Coopers in January 2021, most corporate leaders agreed that a hybrid office model can work.
Here’s the breakdown of how many days the CEOs want their employees to spend in the office:
- 5 days a week—21%
- 4 days a week—18%
- 3 days a week—29%
- 2 days a week—15%
- 1 day a week— 5%
- Only 1 – 3 days monthly—6%
The most pressing concern for executives was keeping their teams aligned with company culture. Too many days spent working remotely would lead to drifting and a loose association with the company’s goals and values.
Companies can attract employees by offering quality settings that can’t be duplicated remotely. The other draw of a corporate setting is the social interaction. Make the office a positive place to be.
Photo: HON WestHill Lounge
The Power of the Flexible Office
A property management authority was commenting on commercial office leases in Long Beach and remarked “that a lot of tenants that don’t really know what the world looks like — don’t have a good grasp of, once we’re out of this pandemic, what their office space needs are going to look like.”
Products made for a flexible workspace design are more important than ever.
If you need more workstations, or fewer, then consider solutions like the DeskMakers TeamWorx Open Plan Desking. It’s easy to configure and comes with many different privacy options.
Photo: Deskmakers Teamworx Workstation
The Attraction of Ambiance in the Office
A popular office trend in workspace environments is known as Resimercial, which means combining the best of a home office and residential setting with the durability and demands of a commercial space.
The lines between work and home are more blurred than ever.
It’s acceptable for office lounges to look like living rooms when they’re properly furnished and arranged well.
You can also create an upbeat office setting where people want to be. Use primary colors and furniture with clean lines. Triangular shapes and circles add depth and intrigue.
Photo: Arcadia Contract Domo Benches
Add plenty of indoor plants to bring in the best of nature and make sure a maximum amount of natural light is flowing into the space.
The Support of the Healthy Office
Show employees that they’re safe and well-protected with mobile glass screens and an array of space dividers. Private and semi-private office cubicles are useful for distancing while still offering a sense of collaboration.
Photo: HON Ignition Chair
Get the Ideas You Need for the Corporate Office and Home Office
Smart space planning is essential to laying out an office setting for maximum productivity and employee engagement. The team at 2010 Office Furniture has over 50 years of combined experience working with office managers and executives at the most distinguished companies in Los Angeles County, Orange County, and the Inland Empire.
Contact them with your project needs and questions.
Read Also: How to Help Protect Workers in Open Office Floor Plans from Covid-19
Main Photo: Arcadia Contract Avelina Table
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Arcadia Contract, Deskmakers,HON & OFS
(IMPORTANT NOTICE: The recommendations on this article are NOT from health experts, and have not been medically tested nor proven as an effective cure or prevention for COVID-19 or any other diseases.)