As the hybrid worker has evolved to leverage a blend of office, home and alternative places, the office's role has transformed. It has a new purpose: to foster collaboration and build community.
It’s time to rethink the workplace. As the hybrid worker has evolved to leverage a blend of office, home and alternative places, the office's role has transformed. It has a new purpose: to foster collaboration and build community. However, research from our Experience per Square Foot™ (XSF) survey showcases that traditional pre-pandemic office environments are ineffective in supporting this - leaving employees discouraged and companies challenged to improve the use of the office. In our most recent XSF research, overall workplace experience dropped 10 percentage points, marking the first-ever decline. If we want to reverse this trend—and improve workers’ well-being, engagement, and productivity—organizations must develop new workplace strategies that align with the new ways that people work and with the drivers of the employee experience.
Adaptability and flexibility, one of the most significant lessons learned over the past few years. Organizations have learned to pivot to remote and other flexible working arrangements, embracing hybrid models and workplace ecosystems that embrace home, in-office, and alternative workspaces. A well-defined workplace strategy can facilitate seamless transitions between remote and in-person work, ensuring continuity in operations while empowering employees to optimize productivity and achieve work-life balance. Thoughtful, flexibly designed space is critical too. We must think about how the space will be utilized, even as organizations change over time. Demountable partitions, multipurpose rooms and moveable furniture are the basic blocks of the flexible office.
Focus on well-being. There is a critical link between employee well-being and organizational success. Remote work brought about new challenges, including isolation, burnout, and blurred boundaries between work and personal life, all of which have significantly lowered our collective well-being. Our research reveals that only 39% of the workforce has “very good” to “excellent” well-being. Workplace strategies must prioritize employee well-being by fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment, which entails incorporating mind-friendly design principles and implementing policies and practices that promote work-life balance, mental health support, and opportunities for social connection. Creating workplaces where people can connect for mentoring, peer-to-peer learning, and social events is critical. By prioritizing employee well-being, organizations can enhance engagement, productivity and retention, and ultimately drive long-term success. Wellness-focused ideas include wellness rooms, greenspaces, standing desks, active workstations, flexible fitness, nutritional support, ergonomic workstations, access to natural light, wellness tech apps, and flexible work arrangements. It also includes more support for work-life integration, such as childcare assistance and access to employee assistance programs. Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), which share purpose, social spaces, and events that encourage interaction across the organization are also great ways to foster internal community support.
With neurodiverse conditions becoming more widely recognized, mind-friendly design concepts that incorporate circadian lighting, temperature control, air quality, acoustics, use of color, wayfinding, and inclusive technologies help create environments where everyone can thrive.
Seamless technological integration. Digital technologies have revolutionized the way we work. As organizations embrace remote and hybrid work models, the integration of technology into workplace strategies becomes paramount. From collaboration tools and project management platforms to virtual communication solutions, technology enables seamless collaboration and connectivity regardless of physical location. A robust workplace strategy leverages technology to optimize workflow efficiencies, streamline communication and facilitate remote collaboration, thereby empowering employees to perform at their best regardless of their work environment.
Space optimization and design. Remote work has prompted organizations to reevaluate their physical workspaces and office layouts. Through our XSF research, the purpose of the office has shifted from what was traditionally focused on individual workspaces to places that prioritize and support community and collaboration. The XSF research highlights today’s challenge, where barely half of the employees feel their current office supports this new purpose. Workplace strategies must now balance their focus on optimizing space utilization with redesigning office environments to meet this new purpose and the evolving needs of employees. Going forward, communal office space will double to foster creativity, innovation and collaboration. This may involve implementing flexible seating arrangements, creating a variety of designated collaboration zones, and integrating health and wellness programs. Organizations can provide great work experiences by creating environments that inspire creativity, collaboration and innovation, and by reimagining space design through a lens of flexibility, functionality, and employee well-being. This is critical for both attendance and performance. Empowering workers by providing places that are stimulating and inspirational, while fostering work that requires privacy and concentration, is a careful balancing act.
Resilience and future preparedness. Workplace strategies must prioritize resilience by fostering agility, adaptability, and contingency planning. This includes diversifying remote work capabilities, investing in digital infrastructure and developing robust crisis management protocols. By proactively anticipating and addressing potential challenges, organizations can navigate future disruptions with greater resilience and confidence, ensuring continuity in operations and mitigating risk.
From embracing flexibility and prioritizing employee experience, productivity, and well-being to integrating technology and optimizing space design, workplace strategies must evolve to meet the demands of the evolving workplace. By adopting forward-thinking approaches that prioritize resilience, organizations can not only weather the challenges of today but also thrive in the uncertain landscape of tomorrow.
What are organizations doing to accommodate and foster performance in the new workplace?