The post-pandemic office and how to get it right

The post-pandemic office and how to get information technology correct

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Fueled by the pandemic, business leaders have faced consistent challenges over the past twenty months – one of which has been navigating the render to the office. The dizzying rate of changing restrictions has created lots of back and forth when it comes to adapting our ways of working. But information technology seems that, as the world is now hoping to find some semblance of stability with Covid, many businesses are moving towards a hybrid approach rather than the standard ix to v – offering their employees the flexibility and choice of both remote and role working.

About the writer

Stuart Sykes is Managing Manager at Sharp Britain.

Despite this, many businesses are continuing to have difficulties when disarming their employees to return to the part – even for one or two days a week. The reasons for which vary greatly, from feet towards heading back to the office, to struggling with child-care, or simply just preferring the habitation-piece of work life-balance offered by remote working.

Insights from Precipitous revealed a demand from workers to get dorsum to the office. The investigation, which surveyed more than 6,000 office workers in small-to-medium-sized businesses across Europe, found that over one-half (55%) claimed it was important for them to be able to meet with and work with colleagues physically. In addition, near three in five (58%) said that working in a dynamic office environment had become more of import since the pandemic.

The idea that employees practice not want to return to the role is an ongoing claiming for companies, and many are attempting to figure out how to appeal to electric current and futurity employees. In our survey, we homed in on the aspects of the office environment that are deterring employees – our enquiry showed that the acme 5 reasons were:

Lack of suitable engineering
Restrictive layout
Shared facilities with multiple companies
Only accessible past public transport / Dull or uninspiring design
Lack of variety of working and meeting spaces

So, faced with this feedback, what can business leaders do to improve their appeal and encourage a return to the part?

What can business leaders do?

The most important style that an system tin can entreatment to the mail service-pandemic workforce is to create a collaborative working surroundings that maximizes the available infinite with applied science solutions. Every bit we've seen, collaborative office space has never been more of import.

Ane aspect of the office that workers missed during lockdown was being able to easily collaborate and piece of work together with their colleagues. Business leaders should accept stock of the available office space and assess how suitable it is for collaboration and advice - a dedicated collaboration space with the latest technology tin can keep employees connected, productive and agile.

Traditional office spaces can exist restrictive, and purpose-built meeting rooms costly, so the answer could be as simple as introducing complimentary-standing seated tables with built-in AV screens throughout the function. These products would offering the flexibility needed to create and foster a collaborative working infinite in any office, for groups of three, v or seven.

In add-on to seating, it'southward important to have the right acoustic solutions in place for the space. With a hybrid workforce, some employees will be at home on the days their colleagues are in the role, and the technology in the office must be able to support this and help forestall employees feeling isolated from one another. Information technology's therefore worthwhile to explore solutions that deliver interactive and collaborative virtual video meetings.

What'south more, AV solutions can be used instead of putting up posters with branding and messaging on walls, especially where office space is rented. It shall remain important for businesses to display primal information as it helps to create the feel of a warm and creative surroundings – whilst allowing a visitor to make its brand and presence felt. Moveable display screens can be used every bit an alternative – they are both agile and flexible, and tin can really help to brighten a space.

The pandemic has led to more people taking more precautions and paying attending to their health, and businesses accept been reminded of their duty to protect employees from potential workplace health threats.

To this end, businesses can create an office space that goes the extra mile – one that uses air purification technology to help reduce the presence of airborne particulates. Air purifiers interruption downwards impurities like leaner, viruses, mold, and odors, and reduce employee exposure to unwanted particles by keeping air office air clean and healthy. This tin aid convalesce some of the anxiety around returning to the office.

Another pace that companies can take to aid create a safer and more secure office environment is past creating an efficient sign-in and reception service. Not but does this give visitors a great beginning impression, but having a touchless sign-in experience promotes a aseptic method of signing-in, minimizing the spread bacteria and viruses in the workplace.

There are a number of ways that businesses tin create an role space and encourage workers back to the office. It will exist important to consider and listen to what employees are looking for, but as well to manage expectations. This will help to ensure in that location is a smooth transition to the post-pandemic working world.

Stuart Sykes is Managing Director at Sharp Business Systems Britain, and is responsible for Sharp's entire Great britain business organisation.