Reimagining the Post-Pandemic Office Experience

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As companies begin their back-to-work transition, many are already rethinking their office design to better accommodate evolving employee expectations and the blend of remote and office workers within the new hybrid model. They’re also focused on maintaining health and safety standards that will help prevent a resurgence of COVID-19 in the fall. While it’s still early in this transition for many organizations, let’s examine some of the trends and innovations that are reshaping the post-pandemic workplace. 

Key elements of the hybrid office

The ability to socialize and interact with colleagues is an essential aspect of our day-to-day work lives that many people have missed during the pandemic. Post-COVID, most experts agree that the office will become less focused on individual work (which can be accomplished at home) and more centered around spaces that promote collaboration and connection.

Having flexible or reconfigurable group spaces will also be important in the hybrid workplace. However, the post-COVID office won’t just include group spaces. In fact, nearly half (44%) of employees say that spaces dedicated to focus work would boost their in-office experience. And just like in group spaces, a high level of adjustability will also be sought out in these individual work areas.

Some of the newer workplace solutions are specifically designed to support remote workers within a hybrid environment. In Google’s new meeting room setup, called Campfire, in-person attendees sit in a circle interspersed with large vertical displays that show the faces of people dialing in by video. It’s an innovative concept that could help remote employees feel more included and visible at work.

A continued focus on health and safety

Despite positive progress on vaccinations, health and safety will remain paramount in the post-COVID workplace. Beyond increased cleaning efforts and other strategies, some businesses are expanding their offices into the outdoors. Google, for example, has converted an outdoor area at its Silicon Valley headquarters into “Camp Charleston”—a fenced-in mix of grass and wooden deck flooring about the size of four tennis courts with Wi-Fi throughout.

Employees returning to the office will also have new expectations for how the workplace should elevate their holistic well-being, especially their mental wellness. They’ll look for spaces for rest or respite (think: nap pods), as well as mood-boosting biophilic design elements that incorporate plants, natural light, and materials.

No matter the approach, companies who want to succeed in the post-COVID era will have to rethink and redesign their offices to ensure these spaces support their people and their business. Want more insights and research on this topic? Subscribe to the Workplace Intelligence Insider Newsletter and you’ll immediately receive the complete article.