Workers have realized that they are just as productive, if not more, when working remotely. However, some business leaders are still wary of the idea despite the past year disproving misconceptions about this work arrangement.
Still, the return to the office is inevitable for many. But instead of asking when employees will return, it’s time to start asking why.
There is a revitalized purpose of the office. Instead of featuring a sea of desks for every employee five days each week, it will focus more on collaborative spaces that nurture teamwork.
When employees come into the office, it will likely be to have access to certain tools they do not have at home and have face-to-face interactions with their colleagues.
“We’ve seen clients put out surveys to staff asking if they will return to the office and if so, how often,” said Aimee Collins, principal of design for global workspace delivery firm Unispace. “The drivers for people wanting to come back to work are seamless and intuitive spaces for collaboration and camaraderie.”
Unispace in particular has taken note of these changes and has created an agile workspace framework called Propeller.
This model aims to merge the perks of working from home as well as the benefits of in-office environments. By using internal and external data, Unispace helps companies reconfigure their workspaces by adjusting their goals and uniquely tailor solutions to accommodate their needs.