Over the past couple of years, more individuals have started working from home. While the conventional wisdom was that the office was the best place for workplace productivity, wisdom is getting turned. As fewer people are commuting to work, businesses face the question: do we need dedicated office space, and what should it look like?
While the answer varies from one business to the next, here are some points to consider during this great migration to home-based employment.
Location is No Longer a Defining Factor
When offices are the pinnacle of the workplace, companies compete for prime real estate in big cities and desirable areas. However, that may no longer apply as more workers prefer the creature comforts of home. This means that businesses may be able to relocate to a more affordable area. The overhead will be cost-effective, but the impact on employees will be negligible.
When looking for a new office building, you can focus on elements like parking, nearby amenities (i.e., restaurants), and utility costs. For example, if you move to an area with lots of natural light, you can reduce your energy bills by using sunlight instead of fluorescent bulbs.
Utilize Mixed-Use Spaces
While cubicles were the go-to design for offices of the 90s, they are not as common anymore. Companies are learning that different people work best in various settings. For example, some workers may prefer a more collaborative office with large desks for multiple people to work simultaneously. Other employees might prefer solitude and a private office, free from distraction.
As more space opens up in the office, you can start to accommodate your workers better. For example, some areas may be open and free-flowing, while others might be quieter and more isolated.
Focus on Goals
One way to reorganize your office is to determine what your business needs to thrive. For example, do you need to meet clients regularly to discuss contracts? Or, perhaps you’d benefit from a showroom to house your products? On the other hand, maybe you need to hire more people, so you want an area to conduct interviews and assess new applicants?
Whatever your needs, you can restructure your office accordingly. Also, keep in mind that you can regularly reorganize, such as once or twice a year. By shifting the office layout to fit specific projects, you can improve efficiency.
Create a Flex Office
While some people can work from home full-time, others may need to come into the office a few times a week or month to focus on specific tasks. In that case, you can build a flexible office that adapts to employees on-demand. For example, perhaps workers can share private offices, and you just schedule them on different days. Or, maybe the entire office shuts down one day a week, and no one comes in.
Overall, now is the time to let your creativity flourish when it comes to the future of office space.
Get Moving Help
Relocating or restructuring your office can be a lot of work, so why not hire professional movers to help you handle it? We can help with packing, transporting, and moving equipment. Contact us today to find out more.
