This piece by The Wall Street Journal’s Carol Ryan is an interesting update on the state of office space in New York City and whether the outlook is brightening for owners of class A office real estate. There are so many benefits to bringing workers back to the office, including strengthening company cultures and collaboration, revitalizing city downtowns, increasing activity for small businesses such as restaurants and retail, and stabilizing the values of office buildings and property tax revenue for city services. Beyond communicating those economic benefits, we must also encourage workers to return to the office by providing high-quality office space and healthy surrounding communities that make them want to come back.
Tim Stearns
5mo
Good comments John. Truly a socioeconomic upheaval, not only for our cities, but accross the entire country. The economic impact is immense and easily traceable. The social impact not so much. Over the last few decades, we have created a phenomenon of “digital socialization “, that has been exasperated by the pandemic. Company culture has become harder to not only maintain, but to even define. Culture comes from a society; the aggregate of people together. An empty office does not lend itself to an aggregate of people together so a culture cannot be created. Getting people back in the office not only has positive economic impact, but sociatal as well. Common interests can be found between people much more easily when they see each other on a frequent basis. Forcing our employees back is not the answer, creating a work atmosphere that encourages them back is the only way to recreate lost culture.
Jim May
5mo
John Fish - your statement & opinion already spurned many good comments. I think collaboration is one of the most important items that we feel to be missing right now. Collaboration allows many different views and experienced attendees to be more efficient and productive in coming to resolutions, without many more rounds of calls and emails. In person collaboration also allows you to sense the intonation of the attendees statements and it keeps those in attendance, much more focused on the issues being discussed to come to a firm resolution.
Cian Brennan
5mo
Great read. The benefits of bringing workers back to the office are indeed vast.
Joann Spirito
5mo
Great article. Thank you for sharing.
Louie Linares
5mo
Good point!
COO at The Oasis Group
5moWithout the availability of reasonable housing or reliable transportation systems near our downtowns, workers will continue to struggle to see a net positive value to being in the office in person. Far too many workers are frustrated with requirements to return to the office, only for all meetings to be held via online platforms. There needs to be a real effort by managers to diligently create the in-person culture they want to be attractive to workers or the calculus for workers will continue to favor remote work.