Creating the Right Spaces and Getting the Most Use Out of Your Post-Covid Workplace

In the last two years, offices have been witness to many changes: from the movement to flexible and hybrid work arrangements, to new safety precautions and amenities. As more employees resume their in-person roles, the expectation is to return to a more collaboratively focused environment that prioritizes safety. When determining the layout and features of your Post-Covid workplace, there are several key strategies to consider to ensure the best possible use of office space. 

Create a Better In-Office Experience Versus What Employees Get at Home 

When many employees adjusted to remote office environments during the pandemic, it became evident that working at home posed certain advantages for focused work. The design of your in-person office space should be intentional and provide value to your team. Improving amenities and providing spaces for recreation are a great way to add value to your in-person workplace. It is also a huge opportunity to improve employee retention and increase the amount of time employees want to spend in the office. 

Focus on Creating a Collaborative Workplace 

Offices constructed prior to the pandemic put a lot of focus on individual desking. Individual desks generally took up the majority of space in the office. However, we predict that focus to change. Employees returning to the office have cited collaboration as the most important feature missing from the remote work environment. The reason employees want to return to the office is to reconnect with their co-workers, foster connections, and have an office culture. Departments that require less collaboration may only desire to enter the office space for meetings, while other departments will want collaboratively focused common areas that promote in-person interactions. 

Reconfigure Your Space to Best Serve Your In-Person and Hybrid Team 

With some departments preferring a hybrid vs an in-person schedule, this creates the opportunity to adjust the target density allotted to each employee. Shifting the target density from 150 sq ft to 180-200 sq ft per person may relax open work areas. Hybrid employees can reserve desking, which can release spaces in the office that are better served as meeting rooms and collaborative areas. Having an intentional approach to your office design will better serve your team long term.  

Have a Flexible Outlook as Expectations May Change 

We don’t anticipate office size to change, but we do expect new developments in how in-person office spaces will be used in the coming years. As we constantly adjust to new norms, it is important to approach your office’s design with a certain level of flexibility. In collaborative spaces, we would suggest opting for furniture that can be more easily reconfigured into a new layout. Additionally, it is good practice as your in-office team adjusts, to routinely audit the configuration of your space to ensure that it is best serving your team’s needs. 

Get in Touch with Us for Help Adjusting Your Office Layout 

Reaching out to an expert space planner will be the best way to reduce the hours spent determining your office layout and will ensure that your modifications will be up to date. As a full-service office furniture and design company, we offer companies of all sizes expert assistance in space planning, design, and office reconfiguration. We are happy to provide guidance at every stage of your project. Reach out to our team for expert help in creating the best possible space for your employees.