When the Covid-19 pandemic sent much of the global population into lockdown, businesses had to adapt, and people began to recognise how important well-being in life is. After this experience, many businesses altered their approach to providing hybrid working environments, which cater to remote and physical office work. The general idea behind a hybrid work office is meeting employees’ needs, meaning careful thought and planning is required before implementing such a concept.
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Avoid the Classic Workplace Aesthetic
The beauty of hybrid work is allowing freedom in the way your team gets their job done, whether this be at home or in the office. However, this doesn’t mean your office should have a classic workplace feel about it, otherwise, it’ll simply deplete productivity. Therefore, when you’re planning your hybrid office, create a space that doesn’t feel like an office at all. Essentially, you’re introducing choice, meaning you may have rooms packed with beanbags, drinks stations, flexible office spaces, and modular furniture to promote collaboration.
Introduce Cloud-Based Booking Systems
The hybrid working environment exists to give your team flexibility between home and office working, which means it may be challenging to make sure there are always available workspaces. However, you can introduce a desk booking system, which will make a great addition to any other smart office technology that you’re using to enhance the area.
Integrate Social Areas
Hybrid working is all about merging work and life, which involves including elements of fun. If you create social areas like bars, cafes, and other breakout spaces, you will help your team to interact positively and may entice more people into the office, which will only strengthen your workforce.
When you’re designing the office, you need to take into consideration the flow of noise. For example, in productivity spaces, you need to encourage clear thinking. Whereas, in social areas, there must be freedom to talk freely.
Create Video Conferencing Spaces
In your hybrid environment, your office-based and home-based teams will need to communicate. Therefore, you should make provisions to ensure group and 1v1 conversations can be had. For example, you can create soundproof booths fully equipped to take calls without interruptions from the wider office.
Prioritise Comfort
Your team will be used to the home comforts of working remotely, so bring these into the office by creating a welcoming and warm space. You can use plants, ambient light, comfy furniture, and natural colours to help put your team at ease and encourage maximum productivity. The most important aspect is leaving the corporate rows of desks in the past and bringing in a sense of fluidity, which will help to get your team’s creative juices flowing.
Use Workplace Analytics
Workplace analytics will help once your new hybrid office is being used. For example, by using smart technology, you can track the way your team is using the office. For example, if there are more traffic population comfort zones, then you know to invest more in these areas.
Hybrid workspaces revolve around employee well-being and flexibility, which means focusing on comfort and choice of workspaces. The tips outlined above will help ensure your office promotes productivity.
