How Design Can Help Companies Get Staff Back to the Office

In the current business landscape, companies face the significant challenge of how to navigate hybrid and flexible working. With remote work becoming more popular for businesses across all sectors in the last few years, the traditional office environment has had to evolve to support new ways of working.

The significance of office design has become increasingly evident as employees are demanding better quality environments and purposeful experiences in the workplace. For companies looking to get their people back in the office more regularly, it is essential to foster an engaged workforce by offering effective workspaces.

One of the major challenges facing organisations now is how to create destination offices that staff want to be in. While some high profile companies like Dell and Amazon have declared RTO office mandates to get teams back in the workplace, this strategy comes with its own criticism and fundamentally isn’t suited to every business. This article explores how thoughtful office design can facilitate a successful return to in-person work.
 

What is an RTO Mandate?

A return-to-office (RTO) mandate is a directive issued by an organisation requiring employees to resume working from the physical office. This mandate typically means the removal of most, if not all, hybrid and flexible working policies.

Despite RTO mandates receiving heavy public criticism from workers on social media and in the press, mandates are driven by strategic business goals. They are usually declared in the best interests of a specific business which means it is hard to truly claim they are bad, or good, from an outside perspective.

How can the office support hybrid working?

Designing offices to support hybrid work involves creating flexible spaces that accommodate both in-person and remote employees and there are many products and features that enable you to do this. As each business has its own objectives and goals which means it is difficult to establish an industry standard of ‘the right’ way to design an office to get staff back in the office. However, one of the most reliable methods of finding out how the office can support hybrid working is to carry out a workspace consultation to understand the diverse needs of employees.

Over the past few years, many workers have grown accustomed to the flexibility and comfort of remote work. As organisations consider their return-to-office strategies, they must take into account employee preferences for work environments. Through engagement workshops, surveys and feedback sessions, employers can access valuable insights on what their employees value most. By ensuring that all employees have access to the right technology and work settings, companies can foster greater collaboration at work and create a more engaging workplace experience.

Purposeful office design, not gimmicks

There are many ways of using office design to attract staff back to the workplace but one of the most important principles is that the workplace has to offer people an experience they can’t get at home.

Time in the office should be purposeful and by providing an office with open plan desking, designated collaboration zones and comfortable furniture, businesses can demonstrate how working in the office can benefit employees.

In years gone by, companies have turned to gimmicks like ping pong tables and beer taps in the office to encourage people to spend more time in the office. These trends have been replaced by high-performing workspaces that foster a sense of community and make the office feel like a desirable place to work.

Reconfiguration and flexibility

Flexibility in office design is crucial to accommodate different working styles and preferences. Particularly in a hybrid working business, employees will be visiting the office at different stages of the week, using the office space in ways that best supports their tasks.

As static office layouts don’t offer a lot of flexibility, designing a variety of spaces in your office such as open collaboration areas, quiet zones and multipurpose rooms gives your people the ability to choose where and how they work. Within these different spaces, installing the right mix of furniture will enhance the flexibility levels in your office.

When employees feel they have the freedom to select their work environment, they are more likely to feel motivated and engaged in their tasks. By providing spaces that offer flexibility or make it easier to reconfigure, there is the possibility to reduce your overall office space and potentially make cost savings.

Hospitality-inspired settings

Informal workspaces are becoming more common in the workplace and offices are beginning to look more like hospitality settings. Designing offices in this way can make spending time in the office more attractive to employees as it makes the office look and feel more welcoming.

By incorporating elements such as comfortable soft seating, touchdown spaces and adding warm lighting and plants, companies can create a relaxed atmosphere that encourages creativity and social interaction. This setup allows employees to engage in casual conversations or focus on individual tasks away from the desk or meeting room. By making the office feel less like a rigid corporate space and more like a community hub, companies can boost employee morale and create a sense of belonging in their office.

Ergonomic Furniture

Ergonomic furniture plays a crucial role in enhancing the overall experience of employees in the office by promoting wellbeing at work and reducing physical strain. When employees are provided with chairs, desks, and accessories designed to support natural body posture, they are less likely to suffer discomfort or strain injuries at work.

Despite some workers having advanced working from home set ups, the office can prove itself to be a more comfortable working environment when offering ergonomic furniture. Height-adjustable seating, sit/stand desks and task chairs with appropriate back support are all benefits that the office can provide over working remotely. The right furniture solutions allow employees to focus better on their tasks without distractions or working from inadequate settings.

When organisations invest in hybrid working environments, they must ensure their furniture offering matches the needs of the environment. High-quality ergonomic solutions are not just about being able to work flexibility around the office, it also means that each task that your employees will complete in the office can be supported by the right furniture solution. Working for long periods on bar stools or sofas with improper back support can cause long-term issues which can have a knock-on effect on productivity. Choosing the right furniture for your office will help you create a more stable workforce, which is crucial for achieving individual and business-wide goals.

Collaborative Spaces

Collaboration is one of the core drivers for companies to push for staff to return to the office five days a week but even in a hybrid workplace, collaboration is key to modern ways of working. Office space that prioritises collaboration will be designed to include areas like informal lounges, breakout rooms and communal areas that bring teams together to enhance group work.

Design elements such as movable furniture, writable walls, and technology-enhanced meeting areas can also further enhance collaboration. By creating an environment that gives teams the option of where and how they collaborate with colleagues is more likely to inspire employees to return to the office. Businesses should focus on offering the tools and environment for their people to be successful and empower them to choose how they work best. Designing an office that communicates its appeal to staff is more likely to engage employees as they will be excited about the opportunities for connecting with colleagues.

Office design is only part of the solution

As organisations look for ways to progress towards the future of work, office design will play a crucial role in encouraging employees to return to the workplace. By prioritising flexibility and collaboration companies will enjoy the benefit of a higher quality working environment which will resonate with modern workers.

However, office design alone cannot bear the responsibility of making staff come back. Businesses have a role to play in ensuring their employees are engaged in their workplace and understand the reasons for working from the office, even if it is only for 2-3 days a week. Asking staff to come back into an office that doesn’t meet their requirements or inspire them is not going to create the mass appeal that makes people want to spend more time there.

By investing in your people and collaborating with colleagues, office design can be a powerful tool transforming the workplace into a space where employees feel valued, motivated, and excited to return to.

If you are interested in starting your journey to an exceptional workspace, contact one of our team on 01604 289630