Amazon, one of the United States largest employers, recently ended work-from-home (WFH) by mandating that all employees will work from the office beginning in 2025.
While some larger companies are trending the way of Amazon, many understand that their employees prefer the flexibility of WFH. A recent survey revealed, that many employees state they will quit before being forced back to the office fulltime.
This leaves businesses with the conundrum of balancing WFH and working from office. To solve this issue, corporations are increasingly leveraging coworking and flexspace alternatives to adapt to the evolving work environment. Here are some ways they are taking advantage of these options:
- Flexible Desk Options
- Hot Desking: Employees do not have assigned desks, but can choose any available workspace when they come into the office.
- Activity-Based Workspaces: Different areas are designed for specific tasks, such as quiet zones for focused work and collaborative spaces for team meetings.
- Enhanced Technology Integration
- Digital Screens and Tools: Offices are equipped with more digital screens, apps, software, and collaboration tools to facilitate seamless communication between in-office and remote employees.
- Desk Booking Systems: Implementing systems that allow employees to book desks in advance, ensuring they have a workspace when they come in.
- Collaborative Spaces
- Meeting Rooms: Designed to support hybrid meetings with advanced audio-visual equipment, ensuring remote participants can engage effectively.
- Open and Enclosed Spaces: A mix of open areas for spontaneous collaboration and enclosed spaces for private meetings or focused work.
- Health and Safety Measures
- Sanitization Stations: Increased availability of hand sanitizers and cleaning supplies throughout the office.
- Air Quality Improvements: Enhanced ventilation systems to ensure better air quality and reduce the risk of airborne illnesses.
- Employee-Centric Design
- Quiet Spaces: Designated quiet areas for employees who need a distraction-free environment.
- New Mother Rooms: Dedicated space for breast-feeding mothers.
Feedback-Driven Design: Engaging employees in the design process to ensure the office layout meets their needs and preferences.
These adjustments aim to create a dynamic and supportive work environment that caters to both in-office and remote employees.