Office of the future: 7 upcoming transformations
Is the office of today a thing of the past? Not at all! 75% of employees admit to being eager to get back to work, so it's safe to say that offices will continue to have a purpose.Yes, one way or another, we will return to work. But working from home and the reality of global health has changed our needs and desires permanently.
Here are the 7 transformations for the office of the future. I promise you, the future is bright!
Hello, peace and quiet!
It’s THE #1 change for our future offices. As a matter of fact, acoustics have often been a neglected aspect of offices. They have rarely been the priority, unless you work in a music studio. But COVID has changed everything. Do you think we can still handle the noise level of open areas? No? Me neither! Thankfully, our acoustic cabins are designed for just that.
Employees will look to…
✔ Isolate themselves for better focus on important deliverables
✔ ️Make calls without monopolizing the conference room
✔ Attend/ conduct video conferences without disturbing the whole office
Moreover, for businesses, it pays off! Employees perform better when they are in a calm environment. In fact, 52% of them say they are more productive if they work in a distraction-free environment.
As we like to say, “hello phone booth revolution!”
Technology to avoid, “Karen, did you mute your sound?”
Or…
“Peter, are you having connection issues?”
“That’s it. We lost Mrs. Thompson.”
Does that remind you of anything? In 2020 (and 2021!), we understand the importance of a good connection AND good technology. It’s clear that companies are not done investing in quality computer systems and hardware.
Reconfiguring office spaces to create privacy.
Open spaces are not going to disappear anytime soon. The same goes for coworking spaces. On the contrary, we will want them to be more flexible, modular and less densified.
Sarah has a job as a programmer that requires a lot of concentration? Her desk can be moved to a more quiet corner.
Sami is an analyst working on sensitive data that cannot be shared with his colleagues? We can reserve him his own acoustic booth, which can even be easily moved to his office space. To find out how check out our video.
Employees will expect more privacy. Additionally, to reassure them of the office Health and Safety plan, the density of spaces may be reconfigured, and the circulation made more fluid.
In other words, we're not ready to hop back into a packed elevator!
Cleaning and hygiene are… nonnegotiable.
Are the hand-sanitizer stations going to stay? Probably. At least, for a while. And there will be no more tolerance for an empty soap pump in the bathroom, a rushed cleaning or a kitchen with questionable hygiene. Gone are those days (and that's good!). Offices will also seek to find furniture and accessories that are practical, safe and easy to clean. Psst! Our phone booths always offer quality ventilation and an antibacterial door handle, both for the standard and premium versions. Ideal for the office of the future!
A hybrid office model? Absolutely!
The days of 9 to 5, 5 days a week may be over… as many of us have taken a liking to telecommuting. But the idea of in-person offices is not about to be forgotten! And for many, a hybrid, half-home, half-office approach is ideal. Honestly, we like it. It’s the best of both worlds!
Identity… shook.
We agree with this oh so interesting report from Radio-Canada. We also believe that the mission of the office is fated to change. Before COVID? Offices were a place of ultimate performance. After COVID? We are not so concerned with performance anymore. The office should be seen as a more social place, a place we can’t wait to go back to and work as a team, and where the atmosphere energizes us. So less performance, more social interaction and creativity. That deals with the identity of the office. But what about brand identity? In the past year, it has crumbled. Employees will have to relearn the brand and fall in love with their employer again! Team brainstorms and team building activities, or the strengthening of your brand image will be essential.
So, our premium acoustic cabins are perfect to elevate your office brand’s popularity among the employees. Colors, logo, paint or vinyl, the sky is the limit!
Sweatpants at the ready!
In the future, we will have to get used to our colleagues' pajamas. Sweatpants, weird one piece, all things comfy. Well, let's not overdo it. Keep your comfy clothes below the Zoom camera line! That's it! This concludes our 7 (rather 6) big upheavals in office life. What do you think? Do you have any other ideas? Write them in the comments! 👇
See you soon!