The modern office; what’s ‘normal’ in 2022?

Things were already evolving but the pandemic fast-tracked changes to the way we live and work, in particular when it comes to offices and business headquarters. 

Being forced to stay home highlighted the fact that many people can now work from anywhere. Home offices and hybrid working are the new normal, and employers must embrace the change if they want to attract and retain the best people. 

These are the three most significant factors in the office evolution

Working from home

It’s well known that many Australians were forced to switch to working from home throughout the pandemic. At one point, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that 40 per cent of Australians were logging into work from their living rooms, bedrooms and home offices. 

Lockdowns and quarantine measures forced many Aussie employers to figure out how their team could stay safe at home and still get their work done. The result was a decisive shift to video calls and online chat. 

While working from home isn’t possible for everyone, and some people struggle with the lack of in-person interactions, this way of working can be a win for employers. One study, by Stanford University, of 16,000 workers over 9 months found that working from home increased productivity by 13%. The interesting caveat of the study was that it didn’t factor in people working from home with their children around (which fortunately is now less of an issue) and it had people showing up to an office once a week (more on that shortly). 

The hybrid worker

Meeting in the middle of WFH and WFA is the hybrid workplace. 

Hybrid workers work both at the office and from home — general three days in one and two in the other. Companies are setting mandatory days so people can get together in person, collaborate and get back to the traditional office ‘watercooler’. They are also appreciating the value in freeing people from their regular commute. 

Hybrid work has placed different expectations on the modern office. All of a sudden, coming to work is an experience to look forward to. Companies are adapting by creating smaller but more flexible office environments (with hot desks and lockers, for example) and by introducing incentives like free lunches on the days when people are physically present. 

The Stanford report shared that In-person collaboration is necessary for creativity and innovation. The researcher found that face-to-face meetings are still essential for developing new ideas and keeping staff motivated and focused.

With this in mind, creating the opportunity for regular in-person gatherings, even for WFA employees, should be kept in mind.  

COVID-19 safety

The final factor in the new office is the still-present threat of COVID outbreaks. The pandemic is not yet entirely over, and the future remains uncertain. 

Modern offices provide hand sanitiser, protective barriers and opportunities for social distancing. When outbreaks occur, there are policies in place to enable people to quickly shift back to working from home, particularly if they have health issues that put them in a high-risk category. 

Is the office dead?

The short answer is, no. The office may be changing, but it is far from dead.

In fact, many overseas investors are still pouring money into Australian office spaces. Hong Kong and US interests have been snapping up billions of dollars worth of office space, in the Sydney and Melbourne CBDs, which shows the corporate world at least still has use for this way of working. 

Want to decide on the right office solution for your business in Australia? Talk to APEO today.