The office is changing: once the center of productivity, in future it will become a social and interactive meeting place for employees.
The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we interact in our private lives as well as at work. In the future, the vast majority of companies will rely on hybrid working models in which the place of performance will no longer be exclusively in the office. This trend is confirmed by our joint study with the University of St.Gallen and HR Campus - the Hybrid work compass - which shows that 77 % of the companies surveyed in Switzerland will rely on a hybrid working model in the long term or are already doing so.
Maintaining an inclusive corporate culture and a sense of belonging among employees is seen as one of the key challenges in this context. Many managers are concerned about how they can strengthen their employees' sense of belonging both inside and outside the office.
At the same time, the usage behavior of employees in offices is changing. While offices were often a place for focused work before the pandemic, such work is increasingly being done from home. Meetings are also increasingly being held "hybrid" or completely virtually.
Against the backdrop of all these changes, a number of questions arise which, among other things, call into question the role of offices in future working models.
What role will the office play in the future?
The office has clearly lost its monopoly as the primary and necessary place of work, although the coronavirus pandemic has not triggered this trend, but merely accelerated it. But what role will offices play in future working models and what relevance do they have for the long-term success of companies? Based on discussions with experts from companies and research, five key topics have emerged.
Social contacts and chance encounters: According to a study by Kuchar 52% of participants stated that teamwork and social contact were the main reasons for using the office on site. Whether it's in front of the coffee machine or on the cozy couch in the office, it's simply easier and less intrusive to chat there than in front of the webcam. What's more, chance encounters are the exception rather than the rule.
Creative brainstorming and innovationDespite all the virtual tools and possibilities, meetings aimed at creativity and innovation still primarily take place physically. One of the reasons for this is that physical interaction has been proven to promote creativity. Creativity always has an emotional level, which can only develop its full effect to a limited extent in virtual settings.
Feedback, mentoring and onboardingAny meetings in which interpersonal relationships play a central role should - as far as possible - continue to take place physically in the future. For example, a single physical meeting can create a stronger basis of trust than a large number of virtual meetings. At the same time, body language and other non-verbal signs, which are difficult to capture virtually, play an essential role both in feedback situations and in mentoring.
Identification and corporate cultureOffices are not only a visible element of a corporate culture, but also play a key role in shaping it. In a working world in which chance encounters and exchanges that go beyond work content are becoming rarer, the importance of offices is increasing once again. Offices must become a manifesto of corporate culture.
Magnet for employeesOffices must become a place that encourages employees to come back to the office. On the one hand, they must offer suitable space for new usage behavior. On the other hand, employees must feel comfortable - ideally more comfortable than in the home office - which requires an attractive furnishing concept as well as offers in the area of food & beverage and beyond. This is the only way to achieve a natural "back to the office" that works without regulations and motivates employees.
Offices are a key success factor for hybrid working models!
In our opinion, the two questions about the role and significance of offices can therefore be answered clearly:
The role of offices is changing. Whereas in the past the office was often a place for focus and productivity, in the future the emphasis will be on togetherness and social interaction.
The importance of offices is increasing. Offices need to act as a magnet and catalyst for physical presence and employee interaction even more than in the past.
Attractive offices that take account of changing user behavior are therefore a critical success factor for the successful long-term introduction of hybrid working models and therefore also for the long-term success of companies.
We look forward to your feedback and comments!
