Category: Workplace

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1 in 3 people say return-to-office negatively impacted their mental health

Studies have shown that return-to-office is creating tremendous mental stress on workers. What is causing this stress and what concerns should companies address in their return-to-office policy?

 

Businesswoman wearing mask in the office during COVID-19 pandemic
martin-dm | E+ | Getty Images

 

Roughly 1 in 3 workers back in the workplace said the return-to-office shift negatively impacted their mental health, according to a June McKinsey survey of 1,602 employed people.

 

Workers who experienced declines in their mental health were five times more likely to report taking on reduced responsibility at work. Meanwhile, another 1 in 3 workers said going back to an office had a positive impact on their mental health, with the primary benefit being they feel more engaged upon their return.

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What is a ‘third space’ venue – and could it be the future of hybrid working?

What is a ‘third space’ venue? Can this further accelerate remote working and work from anywhere? How can companies embrace ‘third space’ as part of hybrid working?

 

People work as they sit in a cafe at Zabeel House - The Greens, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates February 1, 2021. Picture taken February 1, 2021. REUTERS/Rula Rouhana - RC2UKL9PEICV
A different place for a team meeting? Image: REUTERS/Rula Rouhana
  • ‘Third space’ working offers a creative alternative to the home or office environment.
  • Restaurants, hotels and private clubs have found new revenue streams by hosting remote working sessions.
  • 90% of companies anticipate a hybrid working approach, post-pandemic.

 

As many companies move towards a hybrid operating model where employees are split between office and home, a third way of working is growing increasingly popular.

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The Future Of Work – What’s The Point Of A Shared Workplace?

Co-working has been evolving even before the pandemic. So how will co-working take shape post-pandemic?

 

More importantly how will co-working fit into the future of work as workers return to office and also with the increasing adoption of hybrid work?

 

After being in the co-working office space sector for close to 10 years, I’ve seen it change immensely during that time. It started with a few early adopters and is now much more mainstream as a new way of working.

 

As the first glances of a post-pandemic world creep into view, one of the biggest questions remains around how we will all be working in the future. The pandemic forced many to work from home, who were confronted with a whole wave of both challenges and benefits. Undoubtedly, the world of work has been permanently changed, with flexible work arrangements now much more feasible.

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Don’t Let Employees Pick Their WFH Days

As hybrid work becomes increasingly popular how can companies efficiently embrace and manage a hybrid workforce?

 

Should it be the managers or employees to decide which days to work from home and which days to go in the office?

 

HBR Staff/Supawat Bursuk/EyeEm/Getty Images

 

As U.S. states and the federal government start to roll back Covid-19 restrictions, and companies and workers start to firm up their office return plans, one point is becoming clear: The future of working from home (WFH) is hybrid.

 

But another question is controversial: How much choice should workers have in the matter?

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Getting People Back To The Office: 5 Critical Factors For Hybrid Work

It is quite clear by now that most companies will not be able to get their employees back at the office full time. Therefore hybrid work is likely the best compromise for both employers and employees.

 

How can companies implement hybrid work successfully?

 

Here are some tips for a smooth implementation.

 

It seems almost every leader and almost every organization are planning for the great return—getting people back to the office on a more regular basis. We know the future of work will be hybrid, with the vast majority of people working from both the office and from their homes. But beyond that, there is a lot of uncertainty and honestly, plenty of room for error.

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3 ways the pandemic changed what the office will look like

It is time to reimagine the workplace as offices reopen. The role of the office is expected to change vastly post pandemic.

 

The 3 key areas that will see changes are health and workplace wellness; purposed and private spaces for focused work; and increasing role of the office for building culture.

 

Shot of a group of young businesspeople having a meeting outside of an office
LumiNola | E+ | Getty Images

 

Last spring, CNBC Make It asked workplace experts how the pandemic could change the future of work.

 

Brent Capron, the interior design director at architecture firm Perkins and Will’s New York studio, predicted workers would come back to the office on a hybrid schedule. They’d continue to do individual focused work from home and convene in office spaces redesigned as “elaborate conference centers” for large gatherings.

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How to Design an Office Reopening Plan for Effective Hybrid Work

As more companies embrace the hybrid work model it also begs the question –  what strategy should companies adopt to ensure a successful office reopening?

 

How to Design an Office Reopening Plan for Effective Hybrid Work
Getty Images

Companies across the world are thinking about reopening their office doors and welcoming their employees back. Too many, though, are adopting a “wait and see” strategy–that is, they’re planning to unlock their doors and wait to see which–and how many–employees show up. Companies that adopt this approach are setting themselves up for irreparable damage.

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OPTIONS FOR SMALL OFFICES | FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS FOR THE NEW NORMAL

Options for Small Offices | Flexible Solutions for the New Normal
  • Why Does a Small Business Need Office Space?
  • Office Space Challenges
  • Small Office Space: What are the Options?
  • What is Flexible Space?
  • Changing Mindset
  • How to Get a Flex Office
  • Tips for Creating Your Small Office Space
  • Conclusion

 

Given the events of 2020, particularly the need for physical distancing, the office space industry was heavily impacted. It suffered sweeping vacancies and a sheer drop in demand.

 

So it might seem odd that many small firms chose to keep their office space; some even signed up for new workspace and small office space, even though they couldn’t use it at full occupancy.

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4 Things Gen Z and Millennials Expect From Their Workplace

As expectations on how we work and the workplace are changing how can employers attract the new generation workforce back to the workplace?

 

  • Gen Z and millennials now make up 46% of the full-time U.S. workforce
  • Gen X and Baby Boomers prioritize their desire for ethical leadership
  • Diversity and inclusion are very important to younger generations

 

According to Gallup, Gen Z and millennials now make up nearly half (46%) of the full-time workforce in the U.S.

 

To develop the next generation of organizational leaders, every employer needs to be asking: What do our younger workers want from the workplace?

 

In 2018, Gallup asked Gen Z and millennials what they look for most in an employer — and their answers were surprisingly similar. In fact, these themes have only been amplified over the past year.

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The Future Workspace That Isn’t the Workplace

As offices reopen there is an on-going debate whether people will return to the office full time or continue to work remotely. Could there be another option that people can choose where to work from?

 

London WeWork South Bank. Image via WeWork

 

As we begin to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been much speculation and debate about whether we will return to our old habits of working in the office 5 days a week, or if working from home creates equal or greater productivity. However, many believe that the future of the workforce will largely be focused on a balance between in-person and in-office working, and a form of remote working, that summates into a new, hybrid model. But if you’re not at home, and you’re not working, then you must be somewhere else- exploring the true in-between of a public and a private space. Enter the concept of the “third” place, which is used to describe everything from coffee shops to banks, and even co-working spaces. If you’ve ever studied for an exam at a bookstore, or even dropped into an airport restaurant to catch up on some work, then you too, have visited a “third” place.

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