Are Flexible Offices the Future of Work?
Nowhere has the COVID-19 pandemic had a greater effect than at work. Almost instantly, offices around the country became vacant spaces. Kitchen counters, breakfast bars and dining tables were hastily converted into temporary desks as workers began to work from home in droves.
Businesses have adapted quickly. As the pandemic rumbles on, it’s likely that the world of work will remain forever changed. There will be no going back to pre-COVID ways.
The lessons learned from sheltering at home have pushed us faster toward the future of work than could have been imagined just 12 months ago. What began as a response to something terrible has turned into a chance to invite in opportunity. Here’s what we expect the future holds for offices in Australia.
CAPTION: Larger offices and bigger desks will help create the space needed for socially distanced workforces - Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash (Image alt text: flexible workspaces can cater to additional space for social distancing)
A change of layout
As more people return to working from a shared workplace, office space will need to change. The six-feet distance government advocates to keep people safe will transform office spaces and furniture design, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF).
While desk spaces have shrunk along with technology over the years, this is likely to see a reversal. People will need to maintain distance as they work - a larger desk, partitions, and more space between workstations will become one of the ‘new normal’ aspects of office work.
The biggest difficulty is likely to be getting too and from your actual desk - lifts, staircases and even entrances to office buildings weren’t designed with social distancing in mind. Clever solutions for these bottlenecks will occupy architects around the world as we begin to return to office-based work.
Touch-free technology for the office
Contactless technologies will see growth at workplaces. Motion sensors are likely to come into their own as they’ll negate the need for light switches and aircon controls. Voice technology and even QR codes that enable employees to announce their arrival will help to reduce the need to touch surfaces such as door handles and lift buttons, keeping them free from possible transmission of infection.
Tracking software may also be used to keep numbers in communal areas such as kitchens and bathrooms at acceptable levels. Smart devices will enable desks to be reserved in advance, reminders for social distancing at work to be made at scheduled intervals, and may even stop queues forming or large groups gathering.
Work from home and office rotations
After years of pushing for more flexible working arrangements, it’s likely that many businesses will have to support ongoing plans to work from home, simply to keep staff numbers at work down.
Employees may be split into teams or operate with some kind of rotation in which office and home working is scheduled over the course of a week or month. This would enable businesses to limit the number of staff on site at any given time while continuing to support collaboration and face to face meetings when required.
The more efficient use of office spaces may even push some businesses to review their traditional leases. Many will begin to look for alternative workspaces that support their need for new technologies and more flexible use of space at a time when budgets are tight.
Reimagining the office
Already companies are beginning to reimagine what their workplaces may look like - and the cost/savings benefits this could bring. While the importance of shared offices is likely to remain, the way these spaces will be used in a post-COVID world will be very different.
It’s not just the lower employee density or additional cleaning that’s an issue. People’s working preferences and spaces for collaboration and workplace socialisation are also factors that business should consider.
Central office spaces that can be shared on a scheduled basis are one way companies can address the issue. Woods Baggot architectural studio envisions workplace ‘Culture Clubs’ where colleagues are able to join together both virtually and in reality to create and collaborate on projects.
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