How to encourage workers to come back to the office for several days a week, addressing the return positively.
After the acceleration of remote and smart working, numerous companies have reversed course, calling employees back to headquarters. The big Wall Street companies acted first, followed closely by those operating in the tech world such as Apple, Google and Meta, who forced their collaborators to work at least three days a week in their headquarters.
Although the productivity of remote work convinced multinationals during the pandemic, today they agree about the fundamental role of the office, a place to meeting and exchange ideas. A research cited in Forbes by Micheal Gibbs of the University of Chicago showed that for employees of a large Asian IT company who work remotely, performance dropped by 19%. The right compromise seems to be the hybrid work, which alternates a few days at home with the presence at office, a place where meeting and exchanging with colleagues fosters creativity.
Back to the Office: Some Ueful Advice
Today, after a three years in which smart working reigned supreme, a successful return to work seems almost like an utopia for workers, accustomed to the flexibility of home management. While some are happy to return to their daily routine, others are more skeptical, especially if they commute trough the office.
However, the design and choice of company headquarters can encourage people to return, enjoying the benefits of collaborative work. Here are 10 useful tips to encourage workers and commuters to come back to the office.
-
Choose a Central Location
Choosing a headquarters that is easily accessible via public transport is crucial. Offices are easier and quicker to reach if next to train stations, metro or tram stops. For those traveling by car, having a car park nearby is crucial.
-
Develop Amenities for Commuters
Designing functional spaces with additional services such as bathrooms with showers, lockers for storing personal items and small areas where bicycles can be safely stored, favors those who commute with their own “sustainable” means.
-
Flexibility Means Relax
Giving flexibility through the layout of the office is important to handle the transition from home to the workplace. The abandoning of fixed workstation in favor of spaces where people can work according on the day’s activity, with informal work areas with sofas and armchairs, makes the environment more welcoming and comfortable.
-
Hergonomics Matter
Focusing on the wellbeing of workers by designing an office that takes into account their needs and requirements becomes essential to encourage a successful return to work. An efficient ventilation system and the supply of natural light are the basis of the contemporary office design, combined with ergonomic seats and tables to improve the stay on site. Height-adjustable desks like Alaska by Level Office Landscape are ideal for encouraging people to alternate sitting work with standing breaks, having a positive impact on physical and mental health.
-
The Lighting Project
Designing lighting systems to consciously alternate natural and artificial light is important to keep the circadian rhythm unchanged and not tire the workers’ eyesight. Having an ambient lighting system and allowing each collaborator to adjust the intensity and direction of their spotlights proves to be a winning approach.
-
Adjust Humidity and Temperature
The humidity and internal temperature of the office have a significant impact on employees’ comfort. A technological control system is crucial to keep both parameters under control and intervene, through a simple interface.
-
Reduce Acoustic Pollution Inside the Office
Unwanted noises are the biggest sources of stress and discomfort in the office. If on the one hand design con favor acoustic insulation with partition walls with adequate PVB indices and freestanding acoustic screens or fixed to desks, it is also important to study the office layout and have areas of privacy to concentrate, for those who need to meet or make telephone/video calls, separate spaces such as huddle rooms and phone booths to contain noise.
- Favor Activity Based Working
Abandoning the concept of a fixed desk in favor of activity based working can be the basis of a successful return to work. Especially for companies with large headquarters where the operational areas are distributed over different floors, full of alternatives for working in privacy or enjoying the company of colleagues.
-
Promote Collaboration
Collaborative work is what “works” best within the office and is the real added value for a good return. Therefore, the design of recreational spaces such as gyms and company bistros, relaxation areas with kitchenettes and spaces dedicated to informal meetings and brainstorming, are capable of encouraging colleagues to return to the office pleasantly.
-
Design is King
The aesthetics of the office is another factor not to be overlooked for a successful return to work. An environment with a contemporary and welcoming look can in fact promote productivity and collaboration between colleagues. The use of warm colors and materials, with accents that make the environment lively, are reminiscent of home settings and are highly appreciated by employees today.
Level Office Landscape offers tailor-made solutions capable of combining a contemporary design with a wide choice of finishes that matches the company brand identity. To receive a personalized quote, simply contact the technical office on this form, or call +39 039 9284831.