
Hybrid Offices
Hybrid offices
Research shows that the number of businesses opting for the hybrid office model rose by 21% since the beginning of the pandemic. This is now the norm for over half of the companies surveyed.
This change means your business needs to change too. The chances are that your old office design may no longer be fit for purpose. So, if you’re in need of inspiration when it comes to creating a cohesive, collaborative, and productive workplace, read on.
Open-plan offices are amazing for many reasons. They encourage spontaneous collaboration both on a professional and personal level.
The do have one drawback: Noise levels. Studies have found that a noisy office can impact the quality of work done there. It’s something that employees have become increasingly all too aware of since returning the office, having enjoyed the relative quiet of working in isolation at home during the pandemic.
Trying to work when another colleague is having an animated video call right beside you or struggling to hear on a virtually chat with an at-home colleague in the middle of a bustling office is a frustration that everyone can identify with. But there is a way to keep the open plan feel of an office while maintaining calm when it’s needed. Try adding soundproof meeting rooms or even mini-meeting pods to your office. This way your employees can have the best of both worlds.
By its very nature, a hybrid workspace needs to be flexible and ready to adapt to many new situations. Sometimes even several in one day. But how can you create an office that’s always ready for anything?
The key is to incorporate as many movable and modular design elements as you possibly can. For example, desks that can switch from sitting to standing can be useful when multiple hot deskers have their own individual working preference. The more flexible your office is, the more well-suited it’s going to be to a hybrid workspace model.
When it comes to creating a hybrid workspace, you don’t need to start from scratch completely. While there will be some big changes to be made, others will only need a small upgrade. For example, if you can’t afford to make many structural changes to your office, there are ways to adapt the existing space to your new needs. Temporary partition walls can work wonders here. Sometimes, it’s all about a little reconfiguration. Even arranging desks and chairs differently can make a world of difference.
Designing a hybrid office doesn’t necessarily need to take a great deal of time or money. What it does require, however, is the experience and knowledge to make it all happen.If you’re in the process of creating a hybrid office space for your business, we can help. Download our free guide or give our expert team a call today to learn more about hybrid workspace design.
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