Dr. Gleb Tsipursky – The Office Whisperer
Nirit Cohen – WorkFutures
Angela Howard – Culture Expert
Drew Jones – Design & Innovation
Jonathan Price – CRE & Flex Expert
How we once perceived the office has been turned on its head since millions of people have transitioned to remote working positions over the last several months.
Now, companies like financial services firm Standard Chartered are allowing over half of their 85,000 employees to choose their workspace, including a “work near home” option.
This particular choice is one that is anticipated to grow worldwide. Working near home allows employees who don’t have the best office resources in their home, but also enjoy the lack of commute, to have a fully-furnished flexible office or coworking space to come into during the work week.
In fact, a survey found that 84% of employees who lived over two hours away from their typical workplace said they have had a good experience working from home compared to the 56% that live 15 minutes away.
While it could be assumed that it would be easier to just get rid of offices altogether, workers still need socialization and camaraderie. Research has actually found that employees are clocking in more hours when working from home as they struggle to shut off at the end of the day. This takes a toll on the mental and physical health of workers.
That is why adopting these flexible offices closer to their homes can be beneficial in more ways than one. Companies are able to rent them out on a monthly basis, which aids in cutting down their real estate expenses, and employees are able to enjoy a sense of community.
