Dr. Gleb Tsipursky – The Office Whisperer
Nirit Cohen – WorkFutures
Angela Howard – Culture Expert
Drew Jones – Design & Innovation
Jonathan Price – CRE & Flex Expert
Businesses all over the world are considering whether they need office space moving forward as millions of employees continue to work from home. While some companies have allowed their workers to work remotely for the foreseeable future, others are extending their remote arrangements until next year and some require a doctor’s note to continue working from home.
However, for most companies, the solution to this obstacle is that sometimes workspaces are necessary. Although remote working has its own benefits, there are some downsides such as isolation and distractions.
“Right now everyone is still trying to figure out what the appropriate density will be for offices and what the right ratio of private space should be,” said Brian Chen, founder of the modular office space manufacturer ROOM. “The problem is that this ratio can change quickly and everyone has a different answer.”
So why would employees want an office space? First, a private space without the distractions of home can help improve productivity. Second, collaborative meetings can also be difficult to conduct over Zoom and meeting in-person could lead to more innovation. Using flexible workspaces meets these requirements easily as they are outfitted, clean and ready-to-go for members to use.
However, committing to a lease even in the short-term can be a risk for companies who are already financially struggling. The solution to this could be to build a purpose-built workspace that is agile and adaptable. For instance, ROOM has created modular workspace solutions that include soundproof privacy booths, meeting rooms and open spaces that can be shipped to the site and assembled.
