Around 42% of the U.S. workforce was working from home full time in June this year. This mass migration to remote working positions has completely accelerated changes to the workplace now and in the future.
“Figuring out who will work from home and who will require actual office space, which offices to prune and which to keep, how they will be configured and shared, and precisely where they should be sited requires more strategic thought, analysis, and planning than ever,” wrote professor Richard Florida in the Harvard Business Review (HBR).
One of the main factors of the future of work is a hybrid work arrangement, which would allow employees to split their time between the office and working from home.
This will likely mean an increase in flexible schedules and shared offices, which could lead to decreased office takeup in 2022. In fact, a KPMG survey conducted in August found that 69% of CEOs have plans to downsize their real estate footprint.
Additionally, offices of the future will still play an important role, but will have a rejuvenated purpose. Instead of being a space where employees use for 40 hours each week, they will be used for more collaborative opportunities and to nurture community.
According to Cushman & Wakefield, these offices will also be part of a greater ecosystem of workspaces rather than just one hub. This allows for more flexibility for employees who wish to work closer to their homes and the decentralization of the office.
