Employee retention makes remote working more important than ever. The pace of change is ever-increasing.
Some employees feel connected when they come into work every morning. Others like to roll into the office in the afternoon and stay late. Whilst many would prefer not to come in at all. Thus, one way to improve the workplace (you may need to give your employers a nudge) is to make office hours, or even contact time in the office more flexible. Large forward-thinking businesses like Amazon and eBay promote remote working arrangements. These same companies have unconventional quirky office spaces that showcase their company culture through visitor experiences which are visually exciting.
Soon with modern technology employees will be able to flow in and out the office and decide their contact time, whilst staying in the loop through their mobile devices. Cloud computing and 21st the century’s best friend – social networks, will facilitate this development. Let’s change the out-dated perception of the (daunting) word ‘work’ from brick offices with boring commutes and time sheets to an interactive experience.
It’s increasingly hard to sustain employer loyalty in a world of remote working. Autonomy and self-direction in flexible working environments are crucial. The office is changing from a rigid 9-5 structure to a ‘meeting point’. As discussed, technology keeps employees connected virtually anywhere. Often tasks are better-completed out of the office in stimulating environments. Different spaces are appropriate for different tasks – allow the team to pick an environment most applicable to their role. In this way agile working gives employees autonomy over where they do their most productive work.
An employee’s workplace can have a massive impact on their productivity. Noise and a lack of varied workspaces are the most cited reasons for blocked creativity. Modern workforces have the advantage of choice and control.
Ultimately office design is about the people more than the space. Office space should be structured around enabling people to do their best work. Businesses can explore occupancy levels and apply this in design.
Let your employees take control. Maybe implementing ‘office hoteling’ – where remote or flexible employees can reserve a desk would be the answer. This saves cost on office footprints and desk numbers. This will also help employees with that tricky work-life balance and avoid those annoying commutes. Similarly, to other efforts to improve employee experience, remote work is proven to raise satisfaction.
