Design an Office that People Want to Come Back to
The workplace trends that accelerated during the pandemic aren’t going away. Companies should use this moment to improve office environments in a way that boosts employee engagement and well-being, thereby encouraging attendance, increasing retention, and attracting new talent. The authors, who designed the Hana Bank headquarters, recommend a few best practices:
Ask what the space is for — and name it accordingly — It might sound simple, but nomenclature matters. The office shouldn’t be a place to tackle a to-do list, it’s a place for collaboration, creativity, and learning, where an employee feels nurtured and a sense of belonging. Terms like “learning centre” or “innovation space” communicate the new perspective, and influence behaviour.
Listen to what your employees want and need- Use Covid as a catalyst to talk about what the employees want from their workplaces, even if you can’t execute on every idea. People will expect more flexibility, better technology, and incentives to come to the office, and companies must heed that call.
Experiment within your own organization — Repurpose conference rooms, invest in a new teaming table, or refurbish a floor instead of an entire building. You might also incorporate multimedia technology to bring people together.
Activate partnerships based on insights — The office is as much a place to learn and socialize as it is a place to meet deadlines. Smart companies make this happen by partnering with outside organizations to provide such programming like yoga or meditation, community service, or continuing education.
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