Office Amenities Need To Focus On The Employee Experience

Employees returning to the office later this year seems more attainable, and companies should be ready to reconfigure the workspace to accommodate the new future of work.

“Companies face the reality of having to engage in a different real estate market, where there’s actually a glut of office space,” said Ian Zapata, LEED-AP design director at Gensler. “I think that gives power to people that are renting to demand the type of space that they want.”

That is why it is essential for landlords and developers to understand what the benefits of working from home are, and try to include some of these amenities in and around their buildings.

Zapata refers to these amenities as “experience superchargers” and is anticipating that they will become a mainstay in the post-pandemic office.

The trend of lavish amenities in the office actually began pre-pandemic, but the need for a workplace that supports health and wellness has grown tenfold in the past year.

However, Zapata adds that there is a distinct difference between a pretty, eye-catching office building and one that is designed with the future of work in mind.

Amenities that have long been in buildings such as gyms and cafes won’t cut it anymore. Now, leaders need to include services that put the employee experience first. 

This means prioritizing the three C’s: culture, community and collaboration.

“It’s spaces that aren’t just pretty to look at, but can be an extension of the workplace, where you can have meetings, you can have collaboration, and you can give employees places to recharge,” said Zapata.