Covid-19 forced companies to switch to remote work as quickly as possible. Office space sat dormant throughout the nation as workers everywhere created emergency home offices. Now that vaccinations are rolling out through the United States, companies are considering transitioning their business back to the use of office space. A growing number of executives and employees are resisting a return to pre-COVID work practices. According to research published earlier this year by PwC, less than one in five executives say they want to return to the office as it was pre-pandemic. In the same survey, 83% of employers say the shift to remote work because of COVID-19 has been successful for their company. A new hybrid workplace model has emerged and allows employees to choose between working remotely or in an office.
Hybrid Work Model Likely to Be New Norm in 2021
Workers will probably never return to pre-COVID work patterns, but some companies worry that a remote workforce will destroy company culture or loyalty. With a hybrid model, workers will be able to have flexible schedules and locations where they can work a few days a week at home and a few days at the office. Some workers often need different spaces for different tasks, whether it’s quieter areas for concentrating or social spaces for brainstorming ideas. Hybrid models allow people to choose a workspace to suit their needs and help them feel comfortable wherever they’re working from.
Coworking Memberships for the Hybrid Worker
One way companies can offer workers the flexible hybrid model is by providing coworking space memberships. Coworking space gives employees excellent space to work focus while allowing them to stay close to home. These workspaces often offer many perks such as 24/7 access, fast and secure internet connection, access to meeting rooms and complimentary coffee. With a coworking memberships, workers have everything they need to work efficiently in a hybrid work model. Plus, it provides workers the ability to work in a collaborative environment alongside other business owners and remote workers. The ability to interact with others has been a key aspect of day-to-day work lives that many people have missed during the pandemic. Seyfarth at Work conducted a survey of over 500 participants where it shows that 61% of the participants miss in-person “grown-up” conversations the most.
Meeting Spaces for the Hybrid Work Model
The downfall to the hybrid work model, is that workers tend to spend less time together in-person, which according to a 2021 report from The Conference Board, is one of the main concerns for hybrid working as it will cause a potential lack of employee engagement and ability to build bonds between each employee, both of which are major factors when it comes to fostering employee loyalty and satisfaction.
For remote workers, the ability to meet colleagues and clients in a professional and safe environment is one of the most important hybrid office benefits. Shared workspaces provide on-demand meeting spaces for workers to get together and collaborate. With spaces that can accommodate groups of different sizes, companies can reserve meeting rooms for a single worker to use or for team meetings. And with shared workspaces available throughout the city, companies can choose a location that works best for everyone to meet without a long commute.
The hybrid work model is a new concept for many businesses and figuring out the best way to implement it can be a challenge. With the right workspace and business tools, flexibility at work can be a great option to bring workers back to the office. Lakeside Workspaces in Weston, Florida offers options designed with the flexible business in mind. Whether you need a private office, coworking space, or meeting rooms, we can help streamline your transition back to the office. Contact us today for more information.