Allwork.Space
The FUTURE OF WORK® since 2003
Find A Flexible Office Here
  • All Topics
    • Business
    • Biophilic Design
    • Career Growth
    • Coliving
    • Collaboration
    • Coworking
    • CRE
    • DE&I
    • Digital Nomads
    • Future of Work
    • Home Office
    • Human Resources (HR)
    • Hybrid Work
    • Investment
    • Leadership
    • Marketing
    • Mental Health
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Office Furniture
    • Productivity
    • PropTech
    • Remote Work
    • Self-care
    • SMBs
    • Social Impact
    • Space-as-a-Service
    • Technology
    • Virtual Office
    • Work-life Balance
    • Workforce
    • Workplace Design
    • Workplace Wellness
  • News
  • Business
    Adapt Or Die: Future-Proof Your Business With These Essential Tips

    Adapt Or Die: Future-Proof Your Business With These Essential Tips

    Adaptable Hybrid Work Approach Crucial for Employee Retention

    Adaptable Hybrid Work Approach Crucial for Employee Retention

    10 Changes Your Organization Must Make To Succeed This Year

    10 Changes Your Organization Must Make To Succeed This Year

    Do Pay Transparency Laws Actually Matter

    Do Pay Transparency Laws Actually Matter?

    Evaluating the Effectiveness of Hybrid Work Models and Office Reintegration

    Evaluating the Effectiveness of Hybrid Work Models and Office Reintegration

    Establish An Effective Hybrid Work Environment In 6 Steps

    Establish An Effective Hybrid Work Environment In 6 Steps

    IWG Selling The Crown Jewels? You Would Think So Judging By The Asking Price

    IWG Selling The Crown Jewels? You Would Think So Judging By The Asking Price

    The Million-Dollar Mistake Businesses In California Cannot Afford To Make: Compliance Deadline Approaching!

    The Million Dollar-Mistake Businesses In California Cannot Afford To Make: Compliance Deadline Approaching!

    How Africa’s Economy will Harness Digital Tech in the Future of Work

    How Africa’s Economy will Harness Digital Tech in the Future of Work

  • Work-life
    5 Reasons 15-Minute Cities Could Be The Key To Work-Life Balance

    5 Reasons 15-Minute Cities Could Be The Key To Work-Life Balance

    Astonishing Deficit in Hybrid Work Protocol Confirmed by Recent Studies

    Astonishing Deficit in Hybrid Work Protocol Confirmed by Recent Studies

    Driving Sustainable Change: Advice for Facilities Managers

    Driving Sustainable Change: Advice for Facilities Managers

    How To Strengthen Your Workforce: Cultivate Growth Opportunities For Women

    How To Strengthen Your Workforce: Cultivate Growth Opportunities For Women

    Build The Best Work Playlist: 8 Songs To Avoid And 10 To Blast

    Build The Best Work Playlist: 8 Songs To Avoid And 10 To Blast

    Escape The Lingering Cold In These 7 Countries Perfect For Remote Work

    Escape The Lingering Cold In These 7 Countries Perfect For Remote Work

    Say Goodbye Comfy Pants – 9 in 10 Companies Planning RTO This Year

    Say Goodbye Comfy Pants – 9 in 10 Companies Planning RTO This Year

    Remote Work Is Just E-Commerce Déjà Vu All Over Again

    Remote Work Is Just E-Commerce Déjà Vu All Over Again

    Four Days Is Enough

    Four Days Is Enough

  • Tech
    What Every Business Needs to Know About Managed Development Services

    What Every Business Needs to Know About Managed Development Services

    LiquidSpace and Kadence Team Up to Revolutionize Hybrid Work

    LiquidSpace and Kadence Team Up to Revolutionize Hybrid Work

    Using IoT Tech Is Crucial For Office Planning And Employee Health

    Using IoT Tech Is Crucial For Office Planning And Employee Health

    Paving the Way for the Future of the Workplace With the Metaverse

    Paving the Way for the Future of the Workplace With the Metaverse

    What You Need To Know About Web3 And Finding Great Developers

    What You Need To Know About Web3 And Finding Great Developers

    The Price Of Remote Work? Your Privacy

    The Price Of Remote Work? Your Privacy

    Should You Put Your Job On AI-Pilot Mode?

    Should You Put Your Job On AI-Pilot Mode?

    3 Steps To Build A Three-Dimensional Hybrid Workplace

    3 Steps To Build A Three-Dimensional Hybrid Workplace

    PETER MISCOVICH

    Peter Miscovich JLL Global Future Of Work Leader | The Hybrid Workplace Evolution: Unlocking The Future Of Work

  • Design
    Designing with Insight and Intention: Uncovering Behavioral and Functional Needs

    Designing with Insight and Intention: Uncovering Behavioral and Functional Needs

    Redefining “Amenity” in the Workplace

    Redefining “Amenity” in the Workplace

    How to Design for Behavior To Create a New In-Person Working Environment

    How to Design for Behavior To Create a New In-Person Working Environment

    People-Driven Alternate Workspaces

    People-Driven Alternate Workspaces

    How Physical Spaces Shape Human Relationships and Emotional Well-Being

    How Physical Spaces Shape Human Relationships and Emotional Well-Being

    Resimercial Design Balances Comfort and Sustainability in the Office

    Resimercial Design Balances Comfort and Sustainability in the Office

    Sustainability, Well-being, and the Building Blocks of a Biophilic Workplace

    Sustainability, Well-being, and the Building Blocks of a Biophilic Workplace

    Repurposing Furniture Realizing the Environmental, Economic, and Design Benefits

    Repurposing Furniture: Realizing the Environmental, Economic, and Design Benefits

    Designing A Better Future For The Workplace

    Designing A Better Future For The Workplace

  • Workforce
    3 Steps To Fostering Employee Engagement Through a Partnership Model

    3 Steps To Fostering Employee Engagement Through a Partnership Model

    How To Post On Social Media About Losing Your Job

    How To Post On Social Media About Losing Your Job

    Hiring Internationally Doesn't Have To Make Payroll Complicated

    Hiring Internationally Doesn’t Have To Make Payroll Complicated

    Master the Art of Hosting Engaging Virtual Meetings

    Master the Art of Hosting Engaging Virtual Meetings

    Adapt Or Die: Future-Proof Your Business With These Essential Tips

    5 Steps To Master The Hybrid Work Model

    Unmasking the Corporate Return-to-Work Fallacy A Genuine Approach to Junior Staff Development

    Unmasking the Corporate Return-to-Work Fallacy: A Genuine Approach to Junior Staff Development

    Diplomas and Dilemmas: How 2023 Graduates Can Navigate Job Market Chaos

    Diplomas and Dilemmas: How 2023 Graduates Can Navigate Job Market Chaos

    Want To Stop Employees From Walking Out The Door? Build Them A Career Ladder

    Want To Stop Employees From Walking Out The Door? Build Them A Career Ladder

    Unveiling the Hidden Potentials of Remote Work Productivity

    Unveiling the Hidden Potentials of Remote Work Productivity

  • Coworking
    Tech Check: 5 Signs Your Coworking Space Is Due For An Upgrade

    Tech Check: 5 Signs Your Coworking Space Is Due For An Upgrade

    Reaching Beyond The Desk: How Coworking Spaces Can Transform Communities

    Reaching Beyond The Desk: How Coworking Spaces Can Transform Communities

    All Good Work Partners with JLL To Support Nonprofit Organizations

    All Good Work Partners with JLL To Support Nonprofit Organizations

    We Told You So

    We Told You So

    LiquidSpace and Kadence Team Up to Revolutionize Hybrid Work

    LiquidSpace and Kadence Team Up to Revolutionize Hybrid Work

    How the Rise of Four-Day Work Weeks Could Reshape the Coworking Industry

    How the Rise of Four-Day Work Weeks Could Reshape the Coworking Industry

    How Coworking Spaces Can Leverage Blockchain to Enhance Their Services

    How Coworking Spaces Can Leverage Blockchain to Enhance Their Services

    Want To Work At The Ritziest Coworking Office In The World? It’s Going To Cost You

    Want To Work At The Ritziest Coworking Office In The World? It’s Going To Cost You

    The Warehouse_ Where Coworking Meets Inspiration In The Heart Of New Orleans

    The Warehouse: Where Coworking Meets Inspiration In The Heart Of New Orleans

  • Marketing
    8 Reasons Why Sponsored Content Is Worth The Investment For Your Brand

    8 Reasons Why Sponsored Content Is Worth The Investment For Your Brand

    Instagram GenZ

    2023 Instagram Trends Reveal How To Market To Gen Z

    TrueView360 Interactive Virtual Tours

    TrueView360s Interactive Virtual Tours

    2023 Future Of Work Forecast: Focus Marketing On Values and Customer Experience, Not The Product

    2023 Future Of Work Forecast: Focus Marketing On Values and Customer Experience, Not The Product

    Want Your Coworking Newsletter to Actually Convert

    Want Your Coworking Newsletter to Actually Convert? Start by Keeping It Simple, Fun, and Consistent

    5 Pros Share How To Use Instagram To Grow Your Coworking Business

    5 Pros Share How To Use Instagram To Grow Your Coworking Business

    Want To Wow Coworking Members

    Want To “Wow” Coworking Members? It All Starts With (The Right) Insights

    6 Free, High-Quality Photo Sites To Level Up Your Marketing

    6 Free, High-Quality Photo Sites To Level Up Your Marketing

    The Creator Economy Is Dramatically Changing Marketing Practices, Here’s Why

    The Creator Economy Is Dramatically Changing Marketing Practices, Here’s Why

  • CRE
    75% Of Business Leaders Lack Data Needed For Crucial CRE Decisions

    75% Of Business Leaders Lack Data Needed For Crucial CRE Decisions

    Rapid Work Style Shifts Are Tanking Tax Revenues — Can City Planners Catch Up?

    Rapid Work Style Shifts Are Tanking Tax Revenues — Can City Planners Catch Up?

    San Francisco Skyline

    The Future of Commercial Real Estate in San Francisco Doesn’t Look Good

    3 Things CRE Players Must Do To Stay Relevant In 2023

    2023 Future Of Work Forecast: 3 Things CRE Players Must Do To Stay Relevant In 2023

    The Office Space Sector Is Projected To See A Strong Fourth Quarter In 2022

    The Office Space Sector Is Projected To See A Strong Fourth Quarter In 2022

    Meet Flex Space More Chaotic Cousin Gray Spaces

    Meet Flex Space’s More Chaotic Cousin: Gray Spaces

    The Future Of Our Offices And Our Planet Hinges On The Real Estate Industry Priorities

    The Future Of Our Offices — And Our Planet — Hinges On The Real Estate Industry’s Priorities

    JLL New Future Of Work Survey The Next Few Years Are Crucial For Commercial Real Estate (2)

    JLL’s New Future Of Work Survey: The Next Few Years Are Crucial For Commercial Real Estate

    What Is The Impact Of Hybrid Working On Space Optimization

    What Is The Impact Of Hybrid Working On Space Optimization?

  • Podcast
  • Subscribe
  • More
    • Advertise With Us
    • Marketplace
    • Events
  • All Topics
    • Business
    • Biophilic Design
    • Career Growth
    • Coliving
    • Collaboration
    • Coworking
    • CRE
    • DE&I
    • Digital Nomads
    • Future of Work
    • Home Office
    • Human Resources (HR)
    • Hybrid Work
    • Investment
    • Leadership
    • Marketing
    • Mental Health
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Office Furniture
    • Productivity
    • PropTech
    • Remote Work
    • Self-care
    • SMBs
    • Social Impact
    • Space-as-a-Service
    • Technology
    • Virtual Office
    • Work-life Balance
    • Workforce
    • Workplace Design
    • Workplace Wellness
  • News
  • Business
    Adapt Or Die: Future-Proof Your Business With These Essential Tips

    Adapt Or Die: Future-Proof Your Business With These Essential Tips

    Adaptable Hybrid Work Approach Crucial for Employee Retention

    Adaptable Hybrid Work Approach Crucial for Employee Retention

    10 Changes Your Organization Must Make To Succeed This Year

    10 Changes Your Organization Must Make To Succeed This Year

    Do Pay Transparency Laws Actually Matter

    Do Pay Transparency Laws Actually Matter?

    Evaluating the Effectiveness of Hybrid Work Models and Office Reintegration

    Evaluating the Effectiveness of Hybrid Work Models and Office Reintegration

    Establish An Effective Hybrid Work Environment In 6 Steps

    Establish An Effective Hybrid Work Environment In 6 Steps

    IWG Selling The Crown Jewels? You Would Think So Judging By The Asking Price

    IWG Selling The Crown Jewels? You Would Think So Judging By The Asking Price

    The Million-Dollar Mistake Businesses In California Cannot Afford To Make: Compliance Deadline Approaching!

    The Million Dollar-Mistake Businesses In California Cannot Afford To Make: Compliance Deadline Approaching!

    How Africa’s Economy will Harness Digital Tech in the Future of Work

    How Africa’s Economy will Harness Digital Tech in the Future of Work

  • Work-life
    5 Reasons 15-Minute Cities Could Be The Key To Work-Life Balance

    5 Reasons 15-Minute Cities Could Be The Key To Work-Life Balance

    Astonishing Deficit in Hybrid Work Protocol Confirmed by Recent Studies

    Astonishing Deficit in Hybrid Work Protocol Confirmed by Recent Studies

    Driving Sustainable Change: Advice for Facilities Managers

    Driving Sustainable Change: Advice for Facilities Managers

    How To Strengthen Your Workforce: Cultivate Growth Opportunities For Women

    How To Strengthen Your Workforce: Cultivate Growth Opportunities For Women

    Build The Best Work Playlist: 8 Songs To Avoid And 10 To Blast

    Build The Best Work Playlist: 8 Songs To Avoid And 10 To Blast

    Escape The Lingering Cold In These 7 Countries Perfect For Remote Work

    Escape The Lingering Cold In These 7 Countries Perfect For Remote Work

    Say Goodbye Comfy Pants – 9 in 10 Companies Planning RTO This Year

    Say Goodbye Comfy Pants – 9 in 10 Companies Planning RTO This Year

    Remote Work Is Just E-Commerce Déjà Vu All Over Again

    Remote Work Is Just E-Commerce Déjà Vu All Over Again

    Four Days Is Enough

    Four Days Is Enough

  • Tech
    What Every Business Needs to Know About Managed Development Services

    What Every Business Needs to Know About Managed Development Services

    LiquidSpace and Kadence Team Up to Revolutionize Hybrid Work

    LiquidSpace and Kadence Team Up to Revolutionize Hybrid Work

    Using IoT Tech Is Crucial For Office Planning And Employee Health

    Using IoT Tech Is Crucial For Office Planning And Employee Health

    Paving the Way for the Future of the Workplace With the Metaverse

    Paving the Way for the Future of the Workplace With the Metaverse

    What You Need To Know About Web3 And Finding Great Developers

    What You Need To Know About Web3 And Finding Great Developers

    The Price Of Remote Work? Your Privacy

    The Price Of Remote Work? Your Privacy

    Should You Put Your Job On AI-Pilot Mode?

    Should You Put Your Job On AI-Pilot Mode?

    3 Steps To Build A Three-Dimensional Hybrid Workplace

    3 Steps To Build A Three-Dimensional Hybrid Workplace

    PETER MISCOVICH

    Peter Miscovich JLL Global Future Of Work Leader | The Hybrid Workplace Evolution: Unlocking The Future Of Work

  • Design
    Designing with Insight and Intention: Uncovering Behavioral and Functional Needs

    Designing with Insight and Intention: Uncovering Behavioral and Functional Needs

    Redefining “Amenity” in the Workplace

    Redefining “Amenity” in the Workplace

    How to Design for Behavior To Create a New In-Person Working Environment

    How to Design for Behavior To Create a New In-Person Working Environment

    People-Driven Alternate Workspaces

    People-Driven Alternate Workspaces

    How Physical Spaces Shape Human Relationships and Emotional Well-Being

    How Physical Spaces Shape Human Relationships and Emotional Well-Being

    Resimercial Design Balances Comfort and Sustainability in the Office

    Resimercial Design Balances Comfort and Sustainability in the Office

    Sustainability, Well-being, and the Building Blocks of a Biophilic Workplace

    Sustainability, Well-being, and the Building Blocks of a Biophilic Workplace

    Repurposing Furniture Realizing the Environmental, Economic, and Design Benefits

    Repurposing Furniture: Realizing the Environmental, Economic, and Design Benefits

    Designing A Better Future For The Workplace

    Designing A Better Future For The Workplace

  • Workforce
    3 Steps To Fostering Employee Engagement Through a Partnership Model

    3 Steps To Fostering Employee Engagement Through a Partnership Model

    How To Post On Social Media About Losing Your Job

    How To Post On Social Media About Losing Your Job

    Hiring Internationally Doesn't Have To Make Payroll Complicated

    Hiring Internationally Doesn’t Have To Make Payroll Complicated

    Master the Art of Hosting Engaging Virtual Meetings

    Master the Art of Hosting Engaging Virtual Meetings

    Adapt Or Die: Future-Proof Your Business With These Essential Tips

    5 Steps To Master The Hybrid Work Model

    Unmasking the Corporate Return-to-Work Fallacy A Genuine Approach to Junior Staff Development

    Unmasking the Corporate Return-to-Work Fallacy: A Genuine Approach to Junior Staff Development

    Diplomas and Dilemmas: How 2023 Graduates Can Navigate Job Market Chaos

    Diplomas and Dilemmas: How 2023 Graduates Can Navigate Job Market Chaos

    Want To Stop Employees From Walking Out The Door? Build Them A Career Ladder

    Want To Stop Employees From Walking Out The Door? Build Them A Career Ladder

    Unveiling the Hidden Potentials of Remote Work Productivity

    Unveiling the Hidden Potentials of Remote Work Productivity

  • Coworking
    Tech Check: 5 Signs Your Coworking Space Is Due For An Upgrade

    Tech Check: 5 Signs Your Coworking Space Is Due For An Upgrade

    Reaching Beyond The Desk: How Coworking Spaces Can Transform Communities

    Reaching Beyond The Desk: How Coworking Spaces Can Transform Communities

    All Good Work Partners with JLL To Support Nonprofit Organizations

    All Good Work Partners with JLL To Support Nonprofit Organizations

    We Told You So

    We Told You So

    LiquidSpace and Kadence Team Up to Revolutionize Hybrid Work

    LiquidSpace and Kadence Team Up to Revolutionize Hybrid Work

    How the Rise of Four-Day Work Weeks Could Reshape the Coworking Industry

    How the Rise of Four-Day Work Weeks Could Reshape the Coworking Industry

    How Coworking Spaces Can Leverage Blockchain to Enhance Their Services

    How Coworking Spaces Can Leverage Blockchain to Enhance Their Services

    Want To Work At The Ritziest Coworking Office In The World? It’s Going To Cost You

    Want To Work At The Ritziest Coworking Office In The World? It’s Going To Cost You

    The Warehouse_ Where Coworking Meets Inspiration In The Heart Of New Orleans

    The Warehouse: Where Coworking Meets Inspiration In The Heart Of New Orleans

  • Marketing
    8 Reasons Why Sponsored Content Is Worth The Investment For Your Brand

    8 Reasons Why Sponsored Content Is Worth The Investment For Your Brand

    Instagram GenZ

    2023 Instagram Trends Reveal How To Market To Gen Z

    TrueView360 Interactive Virtual Tours

    TrueView360s Interactive Virtual Tours

    2023 Future Of Work Forecast: Focus Marketing On Values and Customer Experience, Not The Product

    2023 Future Of Work Forecast: Focus Marketing On Values and Customer Experience, Not The Product

    Want Your Coworking Newsletter to Actually Convert

    Want Your Coworking Newsletter to Actually Convert? Start by Keeping It Simple, Fun, and Consistent

    5 Pros Share How To Use Instagram To Grow Your Coworking Business

    5 Pros Share How To Use Instagram To Grow Your Coworking Business

    Want To Wow Coworking Members

    Want To “Wow” Coworking Members? It All Starts With (The Right) Insights

    6 Free, High-Quality Photo Sites To Level Up Your Marketing

    6 Free, High-Quality Photo Sites To Level Up Your Marketing

    The Creator Economy Is Dramatically Changing Marketing Practices, Here’s Why

    The Creator Economy Is Dramatically Changing Marketing Practices, Here’s Why

  • CRE
    75% Of Business Leaders Lack Data Needed For Crucial CRE Decisions

    75% Of Business Leaders Lack Data Needed For Crucial CRE Decisions

    Rapid Work Style Shifts Are Tanking Tax Revenues — Can City Planners Catch Up?

    Rapid Work Style Shifts Are Tanking Tax Revenues — Can City Planners Catch Up?

    San Francisco Skyline

    The Future of Commercial Real Estate in San Francisco Doesn’t Look Good

    3 Things CRE Players Must Do To Stay Relevant In 2023

    2023 Future Of Work Forecast: 3 Things CRE Players Must Do To Stay Relevant In 2023

    The Office Space Sector Is Projected To See A Strong Fourth Quarter In 2022

    The Office Space Sector Is Projected To See A Strong Fourth Quarter In 2022

    Meet Flex Space More Chaotic Cousin Gray Spaces

    Meet Flex Space’s More Chaotic Cousin: Gray Spaces

    The Future Of Our Offices And Our Planet Hinges On The Real Estate Industry Priorities

    The Future Of Our Offices — And Our Planet — Hinges On The Real Estate Industry’s Priorities

    JLL New Future Of Work Survey The Next Few Years Are Crucial For Commercial Real Estate (2)

    JLL’s New Future Of Work Survey: The Next Few Years Are Crucial For Commercial Real Estate

    What Is The Impact Of Hybrid Working On Space Optimization

    What Is The Impact Of Hybrid Working On Space Optimization?

  • Podcast
  • Subscribe
  • More
    • Advertise With Us
    • Marketplace
    • Events
No Result
View All Result
Allwork.Space
Subscribe
Instant Grammar Checker - Correct all grammar errors and enhance your writing.
Home Business

Future Of Work: “Company Culture Is Very Powerful, But It’s Being Lost At Home”

byJo Meunier
September 18, 2020
in Business
Reading Time: 8 mins read
A A
Future of Work Template Articles

By returning to the workplace, not only can we fulfill our human need for social interaction, but our workplaces can begin to rebuild their local economies and communities, too.

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare to Network
Nexudus Ad
  • Simon Rusk, from BE Offices, believes it is time we head back to the office and reconnect with our teams and work communities. 
  • According to him, it can be easy to forget how to work as a team if we continue working from home indefinitely.
  • The problem is that after six months, many people have become accustomed to working within their home environments; it’s comfortable, if not entirely convenient.

Working from home has its benefits. As we’ve discovered over the past few months, working from home means no time-draining commute, fewer early mornings and in theory at least, better work/life flexibility.

But six months on from the initial lockdown, have we reached the point where we have become too reliant on working from home? Is it time to step out of our comfort zones and begin re-connecting with our teams and workplace communities?

For Simon Rusk, who co-founded BE Offices in 1993, it’s well past time. And he is leading by example.

Learn anything. Thousands of top courses to choose from.

“I’m going into the office as much as possible now, at least two or three times per week,” said Rusk during a phone interview with Allwork.Space. “We have a rota system in place for our team and we are encouraging them to do the same.”

All of BE’s offices have been redesigned to enable physical distancing and fitted with COVID-19 safety measures. And while many staff members could theoretically continue working from home, Rusk is eager to bring them back together to reignite team cohesion and creativity.

“The average age of our team is mid-twenties. Unless they come back in, it’s easy to forget how to work as a team, how to be in an office and interact with people. It starts to fall away.”

Tech platforms only offer “one way conversations”

Most of BE’s serviced offices are located in Central London or other city centres including Belfast and Birmingham. But surprisingly and despite widespread concerns about congested trains and buses, getting to the office isn’t causing a problem. According to Rusk, many parts of the capital including the West End and the Financial District are “like a ghost town” and even the underground trains are distinctly under-occupied.

Although restrictions have been relaxed, it’s clear that many people are continuing to work from home. But for Rusk, this is causing multiple problems both in the short-term and further down the line.

“Platforms like Zoom and Teams are very good for disseminating information. But it’s a one way conversation. In a big meeting when everyone is talking, it’s chaos!”

It’s exhausting too. Even after many months, video still doesn’t feel like a permanent solution to collaborating in-person, and it probably never will. Part of this is because it’s harder to pick up non-verbal cues like facial expressions, the tone and pitch of the voice, and body language — not to mention frustrating connectivity issues that create lags or distorted audio.

Relying entirely on this form of communication also hampers growth opportunities.

“If you want your company to stay as it is, and it’s very top-down where the leader disseminates information and doesn’t require an upwards flow of information or ideas, it’s fine. That’s what the tools give you.

“But they don’t create environments for creativity.”

Creativity is vital to enable companies to design new products or develop their services, attract new customers, and move towards sustainable growth. But that only happens through creativity — and that requires real human interaction.

“Most ideas come through informal conversations, over the coffee machine, and when you’re in an office and you overhear conversations — that’s where creative energy comes from.

“You don’t get that from working in isolation and communicating through tech platforms.”

Culture and creativity are victims of home-working

The problem is that after six months, many people have become accustomed to working within their home environments; it’s comfortable, if not entirely convenient.

“We’ve become stalled. We are creatures of habit and we’ve got used to being at home, for better or worse, and it’s very hard for people to get out of their comfort zone.”

Another victim of the home-based workforce is company culture.

“That’s another reason why I have encouraged my staff back. Corporate culture is very powerful, but it’s a really difficult thing to build and it’s also very easy to lose.

“It’s that intangible asset that companies have, and it’s created by the dynamic between groups of people. Working from home does not create corporate culture, in fact that’s how you lose it. People become narrow-focused, they focus purely on the job in front of them, on the screen, but their role and responsibility is actually way more than that.”

Isolation leads to stress and mental health concerns

And there is a darker side to working from home that’s impacting an entirely different health crisis: our mental health.

Research by UK-based IPSE (Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed) found a dramatic rise in the number of self-employed people saying they have “poor” or “very poor” mental health, which has increased from 6% to 26% since the beginning of the pandemic. The number of people saying they had “good” or “excellent” mental health has also dropped significantly, from 68% to 39%.

“Your home is your safe space. The ability to switch off from work is vitally important. It’s important for your family life, for stress, and for your mental health. But too often over the past few months, this has been dismissed.”

As human beings, we may feel comfortable at home but when work invades our safe space, or when we feel isolated from teamwork and day-to-day decisions, it’s easy to lose the feeling of cohesion or belonging.

“Ultimately we’ve all got to remember, humans are animals — we are social creatures.

“Working from home distances you from people, you don’t speak with them or have meaningful conversations. You end up keeping people at arm’s length. Home is a very easy and controlled bubble to be in, but it loses a lot of what life’s about, including creativity.”

Sensible, well-balanced return to work

“To think there is no disadvantage to working from home is ridiculous. And our clients are starting to realise that.”

Rusk believes that we have now reached a point where people should begin coming back to work in a way that’s sensibly balanced and well-managed.

Team rotas, office time-sharing and staggered start times make it possible to bring everyone into the office safely at least two days per week, says Rusk, which enables organisations to fuel collaboration, ignite creativity, and rebuild their company culture.

“The office once again becomes the focal point of a business. It’s where you create your team cohesion, your ideas, your dynamic, your culture; it’s where all those amazing intangible things come together and make good business happen.”

How do we get there?

There is currently a void between staying at home, in an environment that’s controlled and comfortable. Or there’s the leap of faith that’s required to step back into an environment that, after many months, feels distant and insecure.

Working from home was always going to be temporary, but with no deadline or clear direction on when and how people should return to the workplace, Rusk believes that the first step needs to come from bigger companies. “If big companies don’t lead the way, the smaller ones aren’t going to encourage their people to come back to work.”

When this happens, not only can we fulfill our human need for social interaction, but our workplaces can begin to rebuild their local economies and communities, too.

“I think we all have a bigger responsibility here. What about all those smaller businesses that rely on the staff of big companies? The shops, cafes and small restaurants that rely on commuters and staff lunches? You could say as a big company, why do I care? They’re not my responsibility. But I think they are. Because when small companies go bust, the next ones to fall are the bigger companies.

“All those small businesses are someone’s livelihood. By helping them, you help yourself in the long-run.

“For big companies to turn their backs, I think it’s morally and financially wrong.”

Ultimately, Rusk believes that large companies should lead the way and begin bringing people back to work in a way that’s balanced and sensible. “If someone is late because they waited for a less-congested train, it doesn’t matter. What’s important is being sensible and working with this seismic change,” added Rusk.

It starts with a safe workplace and by educating people about safe practices, but it also requires a lot of the flexibility we’ve seen over the past few months. Instead of archaic nine-to-five thinking, companies should embrace flexibility and allow people to make practical decisions.

Rusk believes that by refocusing attention to the office as a hub for collaboration, we will begin to move forwards and adapt to the next normal, where we can rebuild our teams, companies, and our interconnected communities.

“We need to get this economy ticking over again,” added Rusk. “It doesn’t matter what business you’re in, we need to get back to work.”

Subscribe today to know what's changing tomorrow.

* indicates required
100% FREE. You can unsubscribe or manage your preferences at any time.
Tags: FUTURE OF WORK®
Jo Meunier

Jo Meunier

Jo is Allwork.Space's Senior Editor for the UK and Europe. Jo has worked within business centre and coworking circles since 2009, researching and contributing written features for numerous industry publications. She reports on the latest market news and delves into local issues with one main objective: to champion the flexible workspace industry and its members.

No Result
View All Result

How will work change in 2023?

Subscribe today to know what's changing tomorrow.

* indicates required
100% FREE. You can unsubscribe or manage your preferences at any time.
A world of learning — on sale now. Expand your horizons with online courses starting at $11.99
2023 Media Kit Allwork.Space
Shit sit-stand desk

Latest News

Farmers Group Employees Push Back Against Return-to-Office Policies

Farmers Group Employees Push Back Against Return-to-Office Policies

June 7, 2023
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.7 Million to Boost Truck Driver Training

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.7 Million to Boost Truck Driver Training

June 7, 2023
350 Multinational Companies Plan to Cut Office Space by 10-20%

350 Multinational Companies Plan to Cut Office Space by 10-20%

June 7, 2023
Survey Reveals Employees Can't Disconnect During Time Off

Survey Reveals Employees Can’t Disconnect During Time Off

June 6, 2023
Hilton Unveils Project H3: Extended Stays for the Modern Workforce

Hilton Unveils Project H3: Extended Stays for the Modern Workforce

June 6, 2023
IWG to open 26,000 square foot space in Portland Oregon

IWG to open 26,000 square foot space in Portland Oregon

June 6, 2023

News and Features

Business

Tech

Marketing

Design

Work-life

CRE

Coworking

Workforce

Daily Digest

Podcast

Resources

Marketplace

Events

Press Releases

FlexSpace, Coworking
and Office Space

Los Angeles

New York

Chicago

Washington, D.C.

Houston

Dallas

Miami

San Francisco

Atlanta

Philadelphia

Seattle

Austin

Company

About Us

Submit to Allwork.Space

Contact

Advertise

FlexSpace

Terms Of Use

FlexSpace FAQs

Privacy Policy

Connect with Allwork.Space

Twitter

Linkedin

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Google Podcasts

©2023 Allwork.Space  l  Exploring the FUTURE OF WORK® since 2003.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Topics
    • Work-life
    • Workforce
    • Design
    • Tech
    • Coworking
    • Business
    • CRE
    • Marketing
  • Experts
    • Podcast
    • Opinions
  • Resources
    • Research + Reports
    • Marketplace
    • Find Office Space
    • Find Remote Jobs
    • Press
  • Events
  • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Submit to Allwork.Space
    • Contact
Subscribe

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
-
00:00
00:00

Queue

Update Required Flash plugin
-
00:00
00:00