With hybrid working seemingly sticking around for the foreseeable future, gaining in popularity due to many businesses returning to the office alongside remote working, it is essential to consider how office spaces can be best optimised for hybrid work.
The workspace needs to facilitate the newly found flexibility, work-life balance and general well-being which remote working has made extremely prominent.
Some principles of hybrid working, such as fewer people working in the office at any one time, may lead you to believe that you need a smaller office and can sell a load of existing furniture and equipment. However – this isn’t necessarily the case. Hybrid workspaces must include different areas for flexible requirements, including spaces for individual work, collaboration, as well as separate rooms that can be used for video conferences with remote colleagues. Recognition of the fact that the working day involves different activities and requires changing setups is imperative when designing your office space for hybrid working, and it will allow your business to transcend the physical barriers of the office.
Providing these separate spaces will enable all aspects of modern work to be completed without issue, with solo work, creative meetings, ‘water cooler’ discussions and virtual collaboration all possible.
Technology has also become more important than ever, with online meetings, video conferences and file sharing now critical features to any hybrid business. Allowances need to be made for the latest technology to facilitate these features in the most efficient and easy-to-use format. Things like speedy internet, along with high-quality monitors and audio equipment are particularly important. Another aspect to consider is the implementation of a desk-booking system so that you can easily keep track of who is in the office, on which days, and in what areas.
One of the core issues with hybrid working is ensuring that staff working in the office and remotely all have access to the same resources, technology, and resources, so carefully planning out the technological needs both in the office and at home goes a long way to ensuring a seamless transition between the office and remote environments.
Depending on how your workforce’s time is split between office and remote working, you may need to tailor your office space more to hybrid working or not. If you are unsure about how to design your office or what your exact needs are, at Whiteleys we can help by providing workplace design consultancy, interior design, and office fit-outs.