Returning to the Office
A 3-part series on the future of the office
Part One: Returning to the office
By Emma Gullick, Associate Creative Director at design agency Phoenix Wharf
In early 2020, the working world as we know it seemingly changed overnight when the global Covid-19 pandemic forced daily life into lockdown.
This meant the majority of workers swapped their bustling office environment for a home workstation, or in some cases, a kitchen table.
After a tumultuous 18 months, the novelty of working from home and what quickly became ‘the new normal’ has worn off and people are looking at planning what, or where, is next.
Initial excitement and freedom from the commute have been replaced with loneliness and the battling of distractions at home. With restrictions lifting and the number of fully vaccinated people rapidly increasing businesses are looking at what the future of the office space holds and how they can adapt to a very different working landscape.
Pre pandemic work from home days were met with reservations around productivity but if anything, the pandemic taught us that working from home (or elsewhere) did not signal the predicted plummet in efficiency.
Quite the opposite, many workers found they were not only able to work from home but able to focus better in their own environment. 36% of UK workers report that working from home makes them more productive and only
“7% of the British workforce have said they would like to return to an office full time.”
On the other hand, not everyone’s work from home experience has been the same and research shows that several other factors such as social and demographic differences have greatly impacted how employees feel about returning to the office. Many have struggled with their mental health from the compulsory solitude brought on by the pandemic and feelings of isolation have been ranked the most challenging factor during mandatory work from home periods (Steelcase).
Research undertaken by tech giant Microsoft reports that
“60 % of consumers worldwide are feeling less connected with co-workers”
although 75% have found being closer to family has enhanced their personal well-being. Those living alone have been greatly affected by the sudden and lengthy pivot to remote working.
Alongside the social elements of being in the office, a report by Arup found that 79% of typically office-based employees believe that there are professional benefits to sharing a physical environment with their colleagues and managers.
Younger members of staff especially benefit from mentoring and guidance from colleagues in a way that cannot be achieved via Zoom.
Employees with 5 years’ experience or less were most likely to feel unproductive working at home and many younger workers share the concern that not being present is to be forgotten about (PwC).
Humans are social creatures at heart and a number of reports state that the socialising element of the workplace is something that has been sorely lacking throughout the pandemic.
“87.5% of global employees have missed face to face social interactions at work since the introduction of remote working.”
Early enthusiasm for Friday afternoon drinks via Zoom quickly tailed off with caregiving commitments and time constraints having an impact as well as the awkwardness of slow internet connections and increasing screen fatigue.
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Medallia, San Matteo, image via Office Snapshots
Future offices will need to incorporate more spaces for employee collisions, be that catching up with a colleague or an unexpected opportunity to catch a senior member of staff.
Real estate consultancy Knight Frank have reported that
“53% of British businesses want their offices to have a greater amount of collaboration space which is a trend that is rapidly accelerating in the post pandemic office.”
Group spaces for learning, collaboration, meeting and social opportunities are predicted to increase by 45% within the next 18-24 months (Knoll).
The pandemic has produced a rare opportunity for an in-depth experiment on a global scale regarding how and where we work as well as what we need from our workspaces and colleagues.
Working from home seemed to many like a temporary option but going forward the future is a hybrid model that incorporates opportunities for socialising and groups tasks as well as focused independent working – be that in the office or at home.
How we design the offices of the future will undoubtedly be forever changed.
Thank you for reading!
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