More than a year into the Covid-19 pandemic, most of us are still working from the comfort of our couches.
With more than 60% of Americans fully vaccinated, we can proudly say that we are on our way to defeating mankind’s biggest enemy to date.
Initially, organizations were a bit hesitant to allow their employees to work from their homes. But a few months into the pandemic, they witnessed the productivity levels and performance go up.
As a result, top guns like Microsoft and Twitter announced their permanent remote-work policy. In fact, they are downgrading their office space to bring their permanent remote-work policy to life. Personally, I think that it’s a bad decision. But we’ll get to it in a few moments.
On the other hand, some companies are still evaluating their options, out of which the hybrid work model is something they are seriously considering.
But, did you know that more than 85% of people want to go back to their offices?
Trust me - the work-from-home burnout is real.
· Amazon employees feel 74% more burned out working from home. The number stands at 76% in the case of Microsoft.
· 60% of the ones surveyed are working extended hours
· Working on weekends has become more frequent
· Employees are being expected to work after hours.
And that’s not all.
A “Way We Work” survey concludes that the respondents want to get back to their offices not just because of the work-from-home burnout. But they believe that the office culture has a completely different mindset.
Day-to-day interactions are precious. Being together with colleagues helps them build a sense of belonging. Also, it allows them to stay deeply connected with the company’s purpose. They believe that collaborations and face-to-face interactions are critical for problem solving and innovation. Alongside this, working with peers and learners is key to mentorship and learning.
And that’s the reason I think of the “Hybrid Workplace” model as not a permanent solution.
Don’t Downgrade Your Office Space
The hybrid model isn’t permanent. However, not many organizations have realized this yet. Due to this, the demand for office space has declined. But, as I told you, employees want to return back to offices. At the same time, they want to enjoy the perks of remote work like:
· Spending more time with their family
· More freedom
· Being able to look after their kids or pets
· Allocating time for their hobbies
· And more!
Whether they realize it or not, they don’t want “work-from-home” or “hybrid workplace” models to be permanent. Instead, they want a “work-without-worry” model to come to life.
Rather than selling or downgrading their office spaces, employers should instead welcome the “Dynamic Workspace” model.
This workplace should cater to the needs of different sets of employees. And it should allow them to work from their offices without having to worry about anything – literally anything.
A perfect example of a dynamic workplace is that you can bring your kids to the office. So, if they are sick, you don’t have to worry about staying at home. Instead, you can bring them to the office and enjoy the office’s top-notch healthcare facility. No more having to stay home or asking the nanny to come over if they don’t have school. You can bring them to your office. Here, they can spend quality time with other kids and enjoy the brilliant infrastructure dedicated to kids.
If you want to become an artist or love sketching, you can have a separate room for that as well.
Rather than cutting down on their workplaces, employers should instead think of expanding their office spaces and make sure that they are able to cater to the needs of their employees in an efficient manner.
Also, your employees might be spending hours reaching the office as a result of traveling during peak times. But having a dynamic workplace will allow them to travel and work on their own terms.
Welcome to the World of Dynamic Workplace!
On the subject of dynamic working, here’s what Georgina Smith had to say:
“I have been working dynamically for several years. And I can easily manage and prioritize my time. Also, I work in a way that works for both the business and me. On top of this, I travel a lot without having to worry about work.”
Real estate professionals already see the trends in front of their eyes. And in no time, we will see the mass adoption of the dynamic workplace model.
So, what are you waiting for?
Build a dynamic workplace today.
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