Business growth consultant Daniel Groves offers Finance Monthly an analysis of the current role of offices and his predictions on how it will shift in 2021 and beyond.

COVID-19 has had a big impact on offices around the world, with lockdown guidelines and social distancing measures leading many to work from home. There have been many proponents of home working, from a better work-life balance to cutting down on the expenses of commuting. But what does this mean for offices going forward? 

While there is still going to be a need for offices beyond the pandemic, the role they play in modern businesses will need to evolve to adapt to the ‘new normal’. These are some of the ways that offices are likely to change in the future to meet the demands of running a business while also maintaining the wellbeing of staff. 

The office is still important

In spite of the rise in remote working, offices are still important to how businesses operate. Many people like the idea of dividing their work life between in-person and remote, in order to gain a better split between their personal life and their career. 

What’s more, some businesses have no choice but to have a central location for staff to work from in order to comply with data security. But in order to stay relevant, businesses require their office spaces to adapt and change with the times. The offices of the future will be shaped from the lessons learned through the pandemic and this means that they need to become a space where the benefits reaped from working there are worth the extra effort required to get there.

From how they look to how they make employees feel and how staff are treated within them, offices need to be worth the journey and over the coming months as we navigate the pandemic and its aftermath, offices will be under closer inspection.

In spite of the rise in remote working, offices are still important to how businesses operate.

A new focus

The focus of the office has now changed – it’s no longer the hub of the company but rather a space for collaboration and creativity. In response to the pandemic, offices are now better suited to providing a place to come together with colleagues and brainstorm ideas. Co-working spaces need to be inspiring and encourage ideation and participation. 

So, modern businesses need to accommodate this and provide break out areas and flexible open plan spaces. Business owners need to recognise that staff need collaborative areas that can be adapted to suit different needs, both for social interactions as well as quieter spaces to concentrate. 

More working remotely

COVID-19 has resulted in more people working remotely than ever before, which has placed a greater importance on having access to good digital services. Employees need to be able to utilise software to collaborate effectively, from making better use of calendars and time management tools to arrange meetings, to using cloud software to share and access files and documents. 

It’s also vital that all staff have great connectivity in order to make the best use of these tools. Businesses need to support teamwork through the right organisational aids so that staff can coordinate and share resources efficiently.

Design focused around people

More than ever before, companies need to pay attention to how their offices are designed in order to keep staff and visitors safe. While mistakes in the office layout prior to the pandemic may have been inconvenient, it could now be unsafe or even illegal. 

“The pandemic has accelerated the move towards genuinely people-focused design,” says Roderick Altman, CEO at SAS International. “This means designing workspaces that accommodate the needs of each and every person rather than considering office workers as a herd. Some of the major issues are reduced density of people, fixed desk working, increased focus on cleanliness and closed ceilings”. 

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It’s not just desks and cubicles that need to be considered, but also other areas of the building such as meeting rooms, canteens, lifts and corridors. 

Hot desking is no more (for the moment)

Hot desking was popular before COVID-19 hit, but it’s no longer a safe option. For companies with smaller offices, a better and safer option may be to consider that only certain people come into the office while others work remotely. But there’s no one-size-fits-all solution and the answer will vary depending on which talent is required for the business and how much collaboration is necessary. 

Even within each business, the needs could vary across different teams and geographies, and varying demands throughout the year. Offices can still be used as a central meeting hub for everyone, but if there isn’t the space for every member of staff to work safely, then businesses need to offer an alternative. 

Final thoughts

The uniqueness of our current situation means that there’s no template for how to move forward or work post-lockdown. The key to success is flexibility and encouraging collaboration between staff, while having continuity measures in place should a second wave hit. From changing office layouts to create a safer work environment to providing staff with the digital tools they need to maintain contact and collaboration with colleagues, businesses need to be willing to adapt and utilise office premises in different ways to adhere to the guidelines as they evolve.