The Future of the Office

With many Covid restrictions being eased across Britain, many businesses are considering the role of the physical workplace. The last year has exposed to employers and employees alike the benefits and drawbacks of working from home- and has highlighted the importance of a good working environment, whether that be in a traditional office setting, at home, or elsewhere.

Many people will be thankful for the return to the office. For the past year, many of us have felt cooped up within our homes: being back in the office gives us 35 hours a week surrounded by different walls. It has also brought back necessary contact with colleagues- communication online often resulted in the reduction (or even elimination of) casual office socialisation. It might seem frivolous, but often these water cooler chats are the foundation for developing good working relationships, reduce stress, and allow for spontaneous creative collaboration. 

Of course, there are many people that have found that working from home has been beneficial. While working within the context of a pandemic has certainly not been ideal (a fact that many parents can attest to), many have found notable advantages. Commutes have been eliminated: with the average person commuting for almost an hour a day pre-pandemic, working people have been able to reclaim that time for themselves and save money on the commutes.

For business owners, there is an obvious advantage for the abolition of the office space: removing the expense of renting and furnishing an office. However, they should be aware that this increases costs for the employee, who face increased electricity and heating costs. It is also worth noting that, while some employees may be able to dedicate a space to work, others may find themselves using their kitchens or bedrooms as their workspace. Furthermore, the reduction of office spaces on high streets and in city centres may also significantly impact local trade and business.

Flexibility between working from home and working in the office may be the solution. It is not perfect, and certainly requires the consideration of many factors: including making sure that employees in the office are not simply given opportunities over their colleagues at home, simply because they are physically in the space. Flexibility to work from home, and having more flexible hours, has been a priority of many individuals, especially those with needs relating to a disability and those with child-care responsibilities. With businesses now having experience with remote working, this may be the perfect opportunity for businesses to consider flexible working as a permanent part of their work culture.