Predictions about the post-pandemic office have ranged from one extreme to the other.
While some have anticipated that the office will be totally obsolete, others believe it will bounce back to pre-pandemic normalcy eventually. But the reality falls somewhere in the middle.
In fact, the most likely scenario that analysts are coming to terms with is an emphasis of flexibility to work from home or other locations when needed.
As vaccines become widely distributed, the hope of returning to the office is slowly becoming a reality. This will also depend on numerous other factors, such as schools reopening and mass transit becoming more safe.
Although there is a desire to come back to the workplace, this transition will likely occur in the latter part of the year.
Part of this shift back to the office will include the adoption of more flex space that provides workers who want a physical workplace, without committing to long-term leases.
These offices will play a significant role in new strategies for companies, such as the hub-and-spoke model that allows for more remote working and offices outside of city centers. This helps cut down on costs during a time when the economy remains uncertain.
Adopting this trend coincides with the pivot to more hybrid working models that allow employees to split their time between the office, their homes and alternative workspaces.
