More than two years have passed since the greatest epidemic in a century turned work from a destination to an activity. Businesses and organizations across a wide range of industries rushed to put plans in place in March 2020 to allow their employees to work from home or at the kitchen table.
During the height of the initial lockdown, millions of Aussies were forced to work from home.
Since then, a lot has changed. COVID case numbers in Australia are high in mid-2022, but most organizations have returned to business as normal. They’re working hard to address the difficulties and opportunities that the post-COVID economy presents. They’ve also returned their teams to the office or established hybrid working arrangements in which employees will continue to spend their time between home and work.
Redesigning the workplace
But how should that office appear in the future? Does it make sense for workplaces to look, feel, and operate the same way they did before COVID, after the incredible upheaval we’ve experienced?
In the post-COVID era, businesses are undergoing some fundamental transformations. Businesses are having to go the extra mile to lure employees back into the office. Many of the steps that have been taken involve making the workplace more appealing and interactive.
To fulfil the needs of hybrid and drop-in workers, offices are becoming more and more mobile and transient. The aim is to provide employees with a space in which they can feel inspired and connected with others as opposed to sitting alone at home at a kitchen table.
While you’re here:
If you have an office where you meet with clients or visit them frequently, you may wish to consider purchasing liability insurance. Public liability insurance is a type of business insurance that covers you if a customer or client is injured or has an accident on your property and sues you. For example, if a client slips on a wet floor or there aren’t enough safety precautions in place, public liability insurance will help to protect you.
The great digital redesign
Many multinational corporations have already made massive changes by refitting their under-capacity workplaces with digital technologies that will allow their employees to work more efficiently.
Some of the modifications are related to building systems and infrastructure, such as increased connectivity, improved ventilation depending on space utilization, and smart lighting that allows for energy efficiency.
Others are focused on mobility, such as systems for checking employees in and out of the building or their floor, as well as interactive floor layouts that show where shared desks are available.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for how the final product should seem and function. In reality, the opposite is true: leaders should take great care to adjust their arrangements to their organization’s and team’s specific needs.
Designing the most effective post-COVID work environment involves collaborating with employees to gather their ideas on what motivates and inspires them. Designs should seek to restructure environments to foster stronger relationships and increase engagement.
Making office planning decisions with workflow in mind
Any redesign process should be informed by mapping, analyzing, and automating business processes and workflows across your organization. It’s the most effective approach to ensuring that your reinvented office space is adaptable, productive, and a location where your employees enjoy working.
The use of digital process management technologies can make the process both rigorous and simple. If you’re planning to make changes to your facilities and processes this year, consider it an investment in future productivity that will pay off handsomely.
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